Agenda and decisions

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors Teresa Callaghan and Loraine Rossati.  Notification had been received that Councillor Sharon Taylor was replacing Councillor Callaghan on the Committee, and that Councillor Lloyd Briscoe was replacing Councillor Rossati.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on 13 January 2022.

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on 13 January 2022 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To review the current hackney carriage fares tariffs following a request from hackney carriage drivers to revise them.

The Committee considered a report in respect of a request from hackney carriage drivers to revise the level of fares/tariffs.

Following a presentation of the report by the Environmental Health Commercial & Licensing Manager, and an address from a representative of the hackney carriage drivers who had requested the tariff review, a number of Members’ questions were answered.

After some debate, and following a brief adjournment, the Committee voted to approve the requested revision to the hackney carriage tariffs.  In so doing, a further resolution was passed that the Committee would henceforth receive a standing item to review the tariffs on an annual basis.

It was RESOLVED:

1.          That, with effect from 2 April 2022,

(a)       the proposed increase of the current hackney carriage tariff 1 from £3.40 to £3.60 be approved for the first 528 yards, and 20p for each additional 176 yards (or part thereof), to be applied to hirings between 06:00 and 23:00 hours Monday to Sunday;

(b)       the proposed increase of the current hackney carriage tariff 2 from £5.10 to £5.40 be approved for the first 528 yards, and 30p for each additional 176 yards (or part thereof), to be applied to hirings between 06:00 and 23:00 hours Monday to Sunday and on designated bank/public holidays and Easter Sunday; between 18:00 to 23:00 hours on New Year’s Eve; and between 18:00 hours and 24:00 hours on Christmas Eve;

(c)       the proposed increase of the current hackney carriage tariff 3 from £6.80 to £7.20 be approved for the first 528 yards, and 40p for each additional 176 yards (or part thereof), to be applied to hirings between 00:01 and 24:00 hours on Christmas Day and Boxing Day; and between 23:00 hours on New Year’s Eve and 06:00 hours on New Year’s Day; and

(d)       the following additional charges be imposed:

·     up to two items of baggage or shopping – 20p *

·     three or more items of baggage or shopping – 40p (maximum) *

·     for each person in excess of one – 20p *

(* additional charges should total no more than £2.00, and must be added on the meter at the start of the journey)

·     soiling charge (for whatever reason) - £50 (maximum)

2.          That henceforth the Committee’s work programme includes a standing item to review the hackney carriage tariffs on an annual basis.

To consider any Part I business accepted by the Chair as urgent.

None.

To consider the following motions –

1.          That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in Paragraphs 1 – 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act as amended by Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

2.          That Members consider the reasons for the following reports being in Part II and determine whether or not maintaining the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

Not required.

To consider any Part II items accepted by the Chair as urgent.

None.