TAXI drivers have objected to a raise in licensing fees in Middlesbrough - with the town’s biggest firm branding the hikes “illegal”.
Representatives of Boro Taxis were not allowed to make their objections known at a meeting of Middlesbrough Council’s licensing committee.
Committee chairman Councillor Bernie Taylor said it was because details of only one objection - from the Middlesbrough Hackney Carriage Association - had been received.
But Boro Taxis director and company secretary Christine Bell said an email outlining its objection had been submitted.
“The increases in fees are unlawful and illegal,” she said.
Hackney carriage association secretary Joe Durkin, inset, said members appreciated the increase was based on inflation and was not exorbitant.
“But we do not believe that licensing officers are giving us value for money,” he added. “All issues facing the Hackney carriage trade should be dealt with before there is an increase.”
Speaking after the meeting, Ms Bell said Boro Taxis’ contention was that the council should not put enforcement costs on the licence fee charges, adding an Audit Commission report to Guildford Council last year said these costs should be excluded.
“We are paying more than £250,000 in officers’ salaries and we will have to seek legal advice on how we can progress this matter,” she said.
The fees are proposed to rise from April 1 by 1.6%. It is less than the rate of inflation because of the pay freeze for most council staff.
A report to the licensing committee by licensing officers said that the proposed increase in fees should cover the council’s costs of taxi licensing activities.
“At the request of the trade and to maintain standards and compliance a high level of enforcement is carried out,” said the officers.
They said legal costs of taking licensing issues to court had to be met and the cost of plans to reorganise taxi ranks would also have to be met from fees.
http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teess ... -28341478/
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