Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Note of the last forum included for information.

The note of the last forum was circulated for information.

·         Taxi tariff

·         Single use badges

·         Vehicle age policy

The Licensing Team Leader provided an update on taxi tariff’s, single use badges and the vehicle age policy which are currently being consulted on.

Comments from the trade included the following:

Taxi Tariff:

·       It was felt that the proposed increase was not high enough, given that an increase had not been given since 2015. Drivers had struggled with loss of trade during COVID and had seen their earnings decrease significantly.

The Chair encouraged the trade to meet collectively to complete the consultation advising what increase in fare they thought to be appropriate.

Single use badges:

·       One operator explained that they were contracted by Lancashire County Council (LCC) and their work did not stay within the borough. The operator explained that the knowledge test did not apply to the work undertook as drivers required a broader knowledge of the area. Drivers take the same route every day for the school year and undertake no Private Hire (pvh) work. The requirement for a local area knowledge test inhibits their ability to licence drivers.

·       The trade raised concern that the licence could be abused with drivers undertaking PVH work in the local area. In response, the Licensing Team Leader explained that there would be a condition attached to the licence restricting the type of work a driver could undertake. If a driver was found to be in breach of the conditions they would be taken before a General Licensing Sub-Committee for enforcement action.

·       The trade explained that they thought it would be unfair to allow drivers on a single use licence to undertake airport transfer work as they thought it would take local work away from PVH.

Vehicle Age Policy:

·       The trade asked if there would be a further consultation in order to allow the trade to consider the consultation responses. In response, the Licensing Team Leader advised that the Council would facilitate a further taxi trade forum for the trade to give a joint consultation response.

No topics were submitted by the Trade in advance of the meeting.

The Chair advised that information had been handed out relating to business grants and explained that the eligibility requirements differed for each grant.

In response to a trade enquiry, the Licensing Team Leader explained that CCTV had been considered by the Committee 18 months ago, however members would be provided training and would re-consider the policy. Drivers were able to install Information Commissioners Office (ICO) approved CCTV within their vehicle, however this is not mandatory.