Taxi Driver Online

Apart from fact no increase since 2012, interesting thing here is that there's currently no waiting time charge? I thought waiting time on HC fares was universal, but obviously not.

Flagfall also covers one mile, so combining the two I could imagine many punters taking the pi$$ on shorter journeys, fannying around at shops and cash points etc, knowing that the meter won't budge

(Or, as the article specifically mentions, waiting at takeaways )


Councillors to debate plan to increase taxi fares across Lichfield and Burntwood

https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/2019/10/15/ ... burntwood/

A proposal to increase taxi fares across Lichfield and Burntwood is to be discussed by councillors.

Members of the community, housing and health overview and scrutiny committee will debate the future of hackney carriage rates on Thursday 17th October.

A consultation with drivers has led to proposals to increase fares, which were last updated in 2012.

At present, two tariffs operate – a standard maximum figure and one in place at night and on bank holidays:

• Tier 1: £3.60 for the first mile and then 17p for every subsequent 161 metres.

• Tier 2: £4.80 for the first mile and 23p for the next 161 metres.

A report from Cllr Angela Lax, Cabinet member for legal and regulatory services, says that the trade call for increased fares would see rises such as:

• A 4-mile trip between Lichfield City Station and Burntwood Island to £10 from £8.70 under Tier 1, or rising from £11.70 to £14 under Tier 2.

• A 3.1-mile trip from Co-op Bole Park to the Friary School increasing from £7.17 to £7.20 (Tier 1) and £9.63 to £11.30 (Tier 2).

One taxi driver told the consultation the review was long overdue.

“As the fares have not been reviewed for seven years they have not kept up with the costs to drivers such as MOT, road tax and insurance.

“There are also increased associated costs with the reduction of time a vehicle can be used as a taxi.”

Waiting time charge

The report adds that trade proposals also include the introduction of a waiting time charge which could equate to £15 an hour.

Cllr Lax’s report explains: “The trade have requested this introduction which it is stated operates in most areas.

“This means the fare is based not only on distance travelled, but also takes account of any waiting time within the journey, for example when the vehicle is stationary during times of heavy traffic.

“Drivers have also expressed concerns about being asked to wait for passengers picking up takeaways.

“Given that labour is a significant cost in providing a taxi service, members may feel that it is legitimate to include a waiting time.

“If this is the case, the issue for consideration is at what point this kicks in. If it applies after 60 seconds, as is the case in Stafford, Tamworth and Cannock Chase, then this will also take into account any waiting in stationary traffic and any stoppages at traffic lights and could significantly mount up.

“However, it is recognised that when drivers are stuck in traffic or they are being asked to wait while a passenger collects a takeaway, they should be recompensed for their time.

“On this basis, members are asked to consider the option of applying a waiting time, with the first five minutes free and then £15 an hour, equating to £3.75 per 15 minutes.”

Other aspects being considered at the meeting include an increase in the ‘soiling charge’ to £60.

Again, I thought waiting time normally kicked off immediately rather than having a free period? Personally I'd prefer a slightly lower hourly charge but kicking in immediately to stop the pi$$takers.

However, £15/hour doesn't seem particularly high.

Looking at Aberdeen and Edinburgh the other day - both around £23/24

Who would have thought?

Does beg the question as to why it has taken this long for licensing officers or Councillors to fathom out that labour plays a part in our costs.

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IDFIMH

Absolute nerve of anyone suggesting we should work any part of our day for free.

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IDFIMH

so I presume when they are stuck in traffic the meter doesn't change onto waiting

If so then they must be one of the few

Wanna this is your part of the country can you confirm ?

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Taxis Are Public Transport too

Join the campaign to get April fools jokes banned for 364 days a year !

Think he has in the past, absolute dark ages.

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IDFIMH

Think Wanna said that he never reads the News section on here? Which may explain his double-posting elsewhere.

Certainly can't recall him commenting on this part of the site

It’s a bit to technical for him.

Can't be bothered looking at the figures for the flagall/distance, but looks like the proposed waiting time charge will only kick in after ten minutes, as opposed to the five minutes proposed initially. Which was too long even at five minutes, if you ask me


Review of Hackney carriage fares

https://www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/news/art ... iage-fares

As part of its review of taxi fares, Lichfield District Council is asking for feedback on proposed increases to fares.

Following calls from local firms to increase fares to bring them more in line with neighbouring authorities, the council is reviewing the maximum fares that can be charged by the Hackney carriage drivers it licenses.

The amount local taxi firms can charge has not gone up since 2012, and Lichfield District is among the lowest charging authorities.

Proposals include increasing normal fees from £3.60 to £3.80 for the first mile, with each subsequent 161 metres travelled going from 17p to 20p.

They also include increasing out of hours fees from £4.80 to £4.90 for the first mile, with each subsequent 161 metres travelled going from 23p to 26p.

Out of hours goes from midnight to 6.59am on any day, plus between 6pm and 11.59pm on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, and on any public bank holiday.

As it is one of the few local authorities that does not have a charge for when a taxi is waiting, the council is also suggesting a waiting charge is introduced at £15 an hour, with subsequent charges applied after that time. The charge would only start after the taxi has been stationary for ten minutes, and then it would be applied for each subsequent ten minute interval up to a maximum of £15 for the full hour. The charge will continue to rise after the hour waiting time.

This means that fares also will include any waiting time within a journey, such as when a vehicle is stationary in heavy traffic.

The proposals also recommend that the soiling charge goes from £50 to £60, reflecting the increase in cleaning costs and the lost trade while the car is off the road.

Gareth Davies, Head of Regulatory Services, Housing & Wellbeing, said:

“We are inviting taxi drivers and local people to give us their views on our proposed increases to our Hackney carriage fares.

“Our aim in setting the new fares has been to keep taxi fares affordable for local people and to make sure there is an adequate supply of taxis at all times, while understanding that drivers have rising costs and need to make a living.”

Find out more at www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/taxifares.

To send your comments about the proposed tariff rises, please email taxilicensing@lichfielddc.gov.uk from 29 November to 12 December 2019.


Published: 25 November 2019

As well as the initial ten minute wait before it kicks in, isn't it also odd that it will only increase every ten minutes thereafter? I thought the norm was for it to click up every minute or two?

Anyway, I see they acknowledge that it's one of the 'few' authorities not to have waiting time. Wonder how many others don't, and who they are?

None.

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IDFIMH