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PostPosted: Tue Jul 09, 2019 7:42 am 
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Plans for increase in taxi fares tariffs in East Devon

https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-ne ... fs-3068031

The current maximum tariff in the district is £6.30 as the two mile fare cost, but two thirds of taxi drivers want it to rise

Taxi fares in East Devon could be set to rise for the first time in seven years.

East Devon’s Licensing and Enforcement Committee last Wednesday agreed to carry out further consultation with taxi drivers on the proposed increased to the Hackney Carriage Fare Tariff.

The current maximum tariff in the district is £6.30 as the two mile fare cost, a fee that has remained unchanged since 2012.

But under proposals put forward by officers following initial discussions with taxi drivers would see that rise to £6.60, a price that would be the same as neighbouring authorities of Exeter and East Devon.

Outlining the proposals, Steve Saunders, Licensing Manager, said that for the last 18 months the taxi trade in East Devon has been split as to whether the upper limit for fares should be raised.

He said that a decision was taken last year to ballot all taxi proprietors and of those who responded, two thirds said that they did want fares to increases, although a third wanted them to stay the same.

Mr Saunders said that they were only around 40 responses but the general feeling was that a small increase was necessary.

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Current tariff (Image: Devon Live)

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Proposed tariff (Image: Devon Live)

He added: “Fare increases always seems to attract an amount of publicity but we are looking to propose a small increase that doesn’t make us the most expensive in Devon and would be in comparison with Exeter and East Dorset, our immediate neighbours. We feel that the fares would be suitably available for the public while also listening to the needs of the taxi trade who now feel it is time for an increase.”

Cllr Paul Jarvis, chairman of the committee, asked whether it was independent drivers or taxi firms who wanted the increase, saying: “If the independent drivers cannot make a living out of this, then we just end up with a monopoly.”

Mr Saunders that the large majority of those who responded saying that they didn’t want the fare increases were the one-vehicle, one-driver small firms. He added: “The ones who wanted the increases were the companies. They said that as salaries have increased and running costs for vehicles have increased, if they employ 5-10 drivers then they have more costs than the one-owner, one-driver enterprises.

“The companies want to see an increase. Individuals didn’t see the need for it. There is still a third who are happy with what they can charge the public but they are mainly the one-man bands.”

He also added that even if the council did agree to raise the maximum fare tariff, there was nothing to stop firms still charging lower rates if they were concerned that increases fares would mean they lost customers.

Cllr Jack Rowland questioned why daytime fares were proposed to be increased and not night-time fares. He said: “Daytime users are more likely to be elderly people trying to get to medical appointments or to the RDE because of the poor public transport links, so I am surprised about the daytime rate being increased. I appreciate the night-time rates are higher but those who use in the night-time are often in a better financial position than those who use in the day.”

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Image: Devon Live

Mr Saunders said that it was often people on a social basis to get back from pubs using taxis in the night-time but that in the past the complaints the council had were that the night-time tariffs were too high, although all tariffs could be reviewed next year.

Cllr Sarah Jackson questioned whether taxi drivers knew that the proposed increase in fares would have been when they were asked, adding: “It may indicate some of the reluctance to support it if they thought the increase was too drastic, but if they thought it was an appropriate amount, they may be more inclined to support it.”

Mr Saunders said that no-one who responded gave any indication as to what they thought would be an adequate tariff and there was nothing from the trade and to what they would like to see.

Cllr Maddy Chapman added: “History will tell us that taxi drivers don’t respond when we ask them something, but when we say we are putting up fares, then they respond and all hell breaks loose when they all turn up. We may just have to bite the bullet and if we are thinking about doing it then do it and then just see if they respond.”

The committee agreed to carry out further consultation with taxi drivers on a proposed increase to the Hackney Carriage Fare Tariff and report back with a full update to the next meeting of the Licensing and Enforcement Committee.


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PostPosted: Tue Jul 09, 2019 7:49 am 
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Quote:
He said that a decision was taken last year to ballot all taxi proprietors and of those who responded, two thirds said that they did want fares to increases, although a third wanted them to stay the same.

Mr Saunders said that they were only around 40 responses but the general feeling was that a small increase was necessary.


Don't think you can draw any conclusions on those who didn't respond - in all probability they wouldn't want a rise, but the ones who do respond will tend to want a hike.

Doesn't say how many total proprietors there are, but only a small minority could have actually responded saying that they wanted an increase.

Quote:
Mr Saunders that the large majority of those who responded saying that they didn’t want the fare increases were the one-vehicle, one-driver small firms. He added: “The ones who wanted the increases were the companies. They said that as salaries have increased and running costs for vehicles have increased, if they employ 5-10 drivers then they have more costs than the one-owner, one-driver enterprises.


Someone with several cars will have more costs than someone with one car? Give that man a cigar :-s

The split in opinion between independents and multi-owners is interesting and worthy of explanation, but I don't think he's quite got there 8)


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PostPosted: Tue Jul 09, 2019 10:34 pm 
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Quote:
Taxi fares in East Devon could be set to rise for the first time in seven years.

](*,)

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PostPosted: Wed Jul 10, 2019 6:57 am 
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Sussex wrote:
Quote:
Taxi fares in East Devon could be set to rise for the first time in seven years.

](*,)

Oadby and Wigston last rise was in 2007.

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