Taxi Driver Online

He is the link to the report submitted to the committee last night regarding our license fees.
http://www.melton.gov.uk/pdf/ITEM%208%2 ... ENSING.pdf
They did a time and motion study over a 3 month period and from the results of this they have come up with the figures in the table.
What they are saying is that over a year they will produce 86 drivers badges at a cost of £269 each and we will pay £102 next year.
They will produce 10 private hire operators licenses at a cost of £852 each and we will pay £262 next year. (these are a 2 year license.)
They will produce 76 Vehicle plates at a cost of £385 each and we will pay £202 next year.
The total cost for producing the 172 various licenses for the year is £60,869
According to the report we can look forward to further 25% increases for the foreseeable future.
According to the report they have apportioned £14,539 of indirect costs in the drivers badge fees. Is that permitted?

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Grandad,

Considerably more expensive than Sefton , look at the 0% increases for next year (page 47)


http://modgov.sefton.gov.uk/moderngov/documents/g7652/Public%20reports%20pack%2027th-Jan-2014%2018.30%20Licensing%20and%20Regulatory%20Committee.pdf?T=10

Utter nonsense.

It doesn't cost £269 to process a driver's license. An hours officer's time at most, and £15 worth of product.

Clearly the issue is they are dividing the staff by the number of licenses to get their fantasy figures.

That's not the legal way of doing things.

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IDFIMH

Thanks for that, I have sent a copy to our Council.

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Grandad,

The Council must be able to demonstrate that those costs charged directly or by apportionment can be identified as being relevant and proportionate

Although a council has a statutory power to levy a fee this does not give it an absolutely free hand in relation to the scale of the fee that is levied.the impact of any increase upon the livelihood of those affected has to be taken into account,as does the scale of the increase.CONSULTATION must take place with interested parties,whether this is a statutory requirement or not, and results of that consultation must be considered by the council before the decision is made.it is important that any consultation is done fairly and the results considered properly by the council.ANY suggestion that the cosultation is a sham would be grounds for an application for leave to seek a judicial review of the final decision.
the judge in kelly v liverpool said although s53 contains no requirement for consultation, a local authority would be ill-advised not to embark upon some element of consultation with those persons who would be affected by an increase in fees (eg the drivers of BOTH hackney carriages and private hire vehicles).


I would also put in an enquiry under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.asking for a copy of any report submitted by Licensing officers to the Head of Function or any Council body to request authority to implement the most recently revised scale of fees.Also ask them to provide a copy of the Subjective Cost Centre(s) Budget(s) for taxi licensing activity showing the estimated costs and income for that year against each relevant nominal ledger code. Also ask them to supply a copy of the year to date outturn to the last available accounting period and any forecast outturn for the current financial year.
I would also be interested to have details of any ‘best value’ comparison the council has carried out in respect of its licensing functions and how it compares with the authorities it may have used as a ‘benchmark’

By virtue of the Local Government Act 1999 the authority is required to carry out such comparison.

As your council don't keep proper records, it's hard to see how they can increase fees. Also the report states no consultion has taken place, and I doubt there giving best value. You state on other posts your fees are cheap, they don't sound cheap. So how much are you paying and how much are your neighbours paying ie Rutland ect.