Item 6 - Review of Taxi Fares and Charges - Clydebank Taxi Licensing Zone
West Dunbartonshire Council · 3 August 2022
Back to Licensing Committee — 3 August 2022 and its agenda
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WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE COUNCIL Report by Chief Officer - Regulatory and Regeneration Licensing Committee – 3 August 2022 Subject: Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 Review of Taxi Fares and Charges Clydebank Taxi Licensing Zone 1. Purpose 1.1 To report to the Committee on the review of fares and charges applicable to taxis operating within the Clydebank Taxi Licensing Zone. 2. Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended that the representation submitted by Mr. MacLeod be considered along with the scales for taxi fares and related charges, proposed by Members at the Licensing Committee on 27 April 2022, subsequently published in the 11 May 2022 edition of the Clydebank Post. 2.2 It is further recommended that the Committee fixes the scales for taxi fares and related charges and authorise Officers to conclude the review by notifying each taxi operator of the new scales and of their right to appeal to the Traffic Commissioner and, if there is no appeal against the scales by a taxi operator, by giving public notice that the new scales are to come in to effect. 3. Background 3.1 In terms of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act, 1982, licensing authorities must fix scales for taxi fares and related charges within 18 months from the date on which the scales came into effect. 3.2 The fares and charges which are applicable to taxis operating within the Clydebank Taxi Licensing Zone have been in effect since 1 December 2021 and these are detailed in Appendix 1. 3.3 At a meeting of the Licensing Committee on 21 April 2022, having considered the proposals submitted by the Clydebank Taxi Operators Group, Members agreed to propose the scales for taxi fares and related charges as follows:- Flagfall increase the flagfall on all tariffs by 30p; Running Mile increase the running mile by 10p on all tariffs; Page 1 of 4
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Tariff 3 (Christmas and New Year) Alter the wording under Tariff 3 to read:- (between 9.00pm and 6.00am a 50p extra charge applies) Soiling Fee increase maximum soiling fee from £60 to £100 3.4 The fare chart advertised in the 11 May 2022 edition of the Clydebank Post is detailed within Appendix 2. 4. Main Issues 4.1 In terms of the relevant legislation, before fixing any scales or carrying out any review, in addition to consulting with persons or organisations appearing to be representative of operators of taxis within the area, the Licensing Authority is required: (a) to publish the proposed scales in a newspaper circulating in the area setting out the proposed scales, explaining the effect of the proposed scales and proposing a date on which the proposed scales are to come into effect; (b) to invite representations from any persons with respect to the proposals within a period of one month from the date of publication of the notice; and (c) to consider any such representations which have been duly lodged before a decision is taken on the matter. 4.2 Notice of the proposed scales appeared in the Clydebank Post on 11 May 2022 inviting representations from any persons with respect to the proposals to be received by 11 June 2022. 4.3 An email was received on 10 June 2022 from Mr Allan MacLeod, a taxi operator within the Clydebank taxi zone, making a representation in relation to the proposals. A copy of Mr MacLeod’s representation is detailed within Appendix 3. 4.4 Mr MacLeod has submitted an alternative proposal to that submitted by the Clydebank Taxi Operators Group as follows:- Flagfall increase the flagfall on all tariffs by 30p for a distance not exceeding 1/2 OF A MILE (increasing the distance from the existing 5/11ths OF A MILE); Page 2 of 4
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Running Mile increase the running mile by 20p on all tariffs; Tariff 3 (Christmas and New Year) period to be extended from:- Midnight on 24 December to Midnight on 26 December and from Midnight on 31 December to Midnight on 2 January to:- 6.00pm on 24 December to 6.00am on 27 December and from 6.00pm on 31 December to 6.00am on 3 January Waiting Time Waiting time to increase from 10p for each period of 30 seconds (£12.00 per hour) to 10p for each period of 15 seconds (£24.00 per hour) Additional Charge Allow negotiated fares for hires from the Clydebank zone travelling to the Dumbarton & Vale of Leven zone rather than having to charge the fare by the metered cost. 4.5 Within Mr MacLeod’s representation he states that it was being submitted ‘for and on behalf of several Taxi Operators who like myself had not been consulted prior to the proposals.’ 4.6 In subsequent correspondence with the Senior Officer (Licensing) Services, Mr MacLeod was advised of the change to the consultation process agreed at the Licensing Committee held on 30 March 2022 which no longer necessitated individual consultation with each taxi operator. 4.7 The representation from Mr MacLeod makes reference to the fare chart in place within the Dumbarton & Vale of Leven zone therefore it is included at Appendix 4 for reference purposes. 5. People Implications 5.1 There are no personnel issues for the Council arising from this report. 6. Financial Implications 6.1 There are no financial implications for the Council arising from this report. 7. Risk Analysis 7.1 There is no increased risk to the Council associated with the contents of this report. Page 3 of 4
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8. Equalities Impact Assessment (EIA) 8.1 No impact assessment is required because this report does not involve any change to policies or services or financial decisions. 9. Consultation 9.1 An advert was placed in the 11 May 2022 edition of the Clydebank Post inviting representations to the proposed fare chart. 10. Strategic Assessment 10.1 In terms of the Council's Strategic Priorities, the purpose of licensing is to protect the welfare of the community, including vulnerable people. Chief Officer – Regulatory and Regeneration Date 8 July 2022 Person to Contact: Robert Mackie, Senior Officer (Licensing Services), Licensing Team, Municipal Buildings, College Street, Dumbarton, G82 1NR. Tel. No. (Direct line) 01389 738742. robert.mackie@west-dunbarton.gov.uk Appendices: 1. Current Fare Chart for Clydebank Taxi Licensing Zone. 2. Proposed Fare Chart for Clydebank zone. 3. Representation submitted by Mr. Allan MacLeod. 4. Current Fare Chart for Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Taxi Licensing Zone. Background Papers: 1. Letter to Mr. Allan MacLeod dated 18 July 2022. 2. Letter to Mr. McSheaffrey dated 18 July 2022. 3. Email correspondence between Senior Officer (Licensing Services) and Mr Macleod Page 4 of 4