..FEES...FEES...FEES...FEES.. ROSSENDALE:
TAXI DRIVERS FURY OVER FEES INCREASE
David Lawrie, Director of the National Private Hire and Taxi Association, has hit out at a ‘lack of consultation’ with the trade on the proposed rises of up to 38 per cent in taxi licence fees, adding that industrial action cannot be ruled out should they be approved. According to LancsLive, Rossendale council’s annual budget proposes to increase drivers’ licence charges from £185 to £223 for three years, annual vehicle licences from £140 to £178, and five-year PH operator’s licences from £300 to £413. A former chairman of Rossendale Taxi Association, Mr Lawrie says cabbies already reeling from the “absolutely diabolical” CAZ charges are now asked to “absorb” inflation-busting licence rises without the means to pass on increases. Council chiefs point out that most of the proposed fees remain lower than they were before they were cut in 2015. Mr Lawrie said: “This has added insult to injury. When you consider Rossendale council was granted millions of pounds through Covid and they released not one penny of it to the taxi trade. There’s also drivers struggling to replace their cars due to zero government support. “The only reason that the fees dropped five or six years ago is because Rossendale council was handing out licences like nobody’s business and they had thousands of driver licences. They had to reduce the fees as it’s unlawful for the council to make a profit out of licensing fees.” Mr Lawrie says the only way the council can justify the rises is by also putting up fares, which he says could impact public safety, for instance with people opting to walk home late at night. “We have got a massive shortage of drivers; not just within Rossendale but nationwide,” he said. “We have got drivers being attacked because passengers are having to wait longer. As it stands right now nobody has come to me and asked me to launch industrial action or strike action. That’s not to say they won’t once they get wind of it.” Despite being delayed until July for revisions, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s controversial CAZ casts a long shadow. Rossendale’s Alyson Barnes was one of four council leaders to write to Mayor Andy Burnham earlier this month sharing “deep concerns” over its “unfair and disproportionate impact” on Lancashire businesses, stating that most of the taxi fleet would be impacted. The letter stated: “No government funding has been made available to upgrade vehicles that depend on Greater Manchester for their business and who contribute to the GM economy. Many of our local taxi drivers live in GM and will have to pay the charge daily to come to work in Rossendale.” The report to licensing states that fees have remained at the level since November 2015, and the proposed changes reflected a “cost analysis” of fees and costs completed by
MARCH 2022
Grant Thornton, acting for the Audit Commission. It adds that grants were paid to existing licence holders to subsidise the cost of complying with the mandatory fitting of CCTV in taxis and private hire vehicles. Cllr Steve Hughes, cabinet member for communities, said: “I think [the rises are] a reflection of the fact that they’ve stayed so low for a long period of time. “They’re still lower than most areas in the region and I think the council has clearly had significant cost increases. Licensing isn’t an area that we can make a profit on - nor can it make a loss.”
He added: “The fees are subject to a 28-day statutory consultation process after which we’ll take a decision on fares subject to a consultation period. “If a request from the trade to review the fares comes in we will absolutely do that. We will work with them to make sure it’s fair both from the public and trade perspective.”
BLACKPOOL: FEES TO REMAIN REDUCED FOR NEXT YEAR
Taxi licensing fees and charges are to remain reduced for the next year in Blackpool. The Lancashire Telegraph reports that following Blackpool Council’s decision last year to reduce the fees, it has been agreed not to increase fees for operators and to reduce licence fees for drivers for 2022/23. The impact of the pandemic on taxi businesses has been difficult with a downturn in the number of licensed taxi drivers and challenges faced in recruiting new drivers. This shortage has had consequences in particular on the night time economy, where many people including those who are vulnerable have not been able to obtain a taxi home after a night out, which has caused anxiety for many people and health and safety concerns. The recently approved council decision will see a 22 per cent reduction in a three-year driver licence and its renewal, which will make accessing the industry more attractive to both new and existing drivers. To council has also decided to continue with the temporary one-year driver licence in place until March 31 by introducing a one-year option from April 1 to new and existing drivers. The cost of a new one-year licence is set at £75 and the one year renewal set at £65. Blackpool Licensed Taxi Operators Association has been in dialogue with the council over a period of time in relation to concerns in the reduced number of drivers and requests to consider fees and charges. Bill Lewtas, Secretary of the Blackpool Licensed Taxi Operators Association said, “We are very pleased to learn about this reduction in taxi driver licence fees. We raised concerns with the council about the difficulties recruiting drivers and they listened. By reducing taxi driver licence fees to a figure which is one of the lowest in the country, it is hoped to attract people into driving a Blackpool taxi.”
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