Taxi drivers critical of council's 'stealth tax'TAXI drivers across East Lindsey will now have to pay an administration charge if they change their vehicle during their licence term.
East Lindsey District Council's General Licensing Committee is making a number of changes as part of a review.
One of the main changes is the introduction of a £30 administration cost every time a taxi proprietor changes their vehicle during the currency of their licence.
Principal licensing officer Adrian Twiddy said: "We deal with around 70 vehicle changes a year. It is just a small minority but we do have some proprietors who change their vehicle four or five times a year and we do have a significant number who change at least once a year."
Based on 70 vehicle changes, the £30 administration charge would be equal to £2,100 additional income.
There will also be the standard £10 fee for the new licence plate for the vehicle, which remains the same.
This administration charge was objected to by the Skegness Taxi Owners Association (STOA).
Chairman Darrell Blackburn said: "The introduction of a charge of £30 to change over a vehicle is just another excuse to extract more money from the taxi trade. It is simply not fair to make us pay for this service as we have never needed to pay it in the past."
Councillor Julia Pears agreed that no charge should be introduced.
She said: "If they are improving their vehicles then surely that is for the good. I personally do not think we should charge them this new charge in this current financial situation. Taxi drivers are going to find it difficult."
But the other councillors disagreed and voted to introduce the administration charge from July 8. The council, as the licensing authority, also has to set a maximum fare structure by distance for hackney carriages.
The STOA claimed the new maximum rates set by the council could not be calibrated into a taxi meter and they wished their own fares for distance to be adopted.
Mr Twiddy said he had sought advice from three taxi metre calibration companies who said there was no issue with the council's rates.
The new maximum rate by distance for the daytime tariff which comes into force from June 25 are £5.90 for two miles (presently £5.60), £7.50 for three miles (£7.40) and £9.30 for four miles (£9).
Other changes introduced by the committee include changing the night time rate to start at 11pm instead of 11.30pm and increasing the maximum soiling charge from £50 to £60.
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http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/Tax ... z2VytGMFz9
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