Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Chandler, Higgins, Posnett, Steadman and Wilkinson. Councillor Cumbers was appointed as substitute for Councillor Wilkinson.

Members to declare any interest as appropriate in respect of items to be considered at this meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

To confirm  the minutes of the previous meeting.

Members who were not in attendance at the last meeting abstained from voting on the accuracy of the minutes. Councillors Cumbers and Freer-Jones voted to confirm the minutes with the following amendments:

“An example of charges over a 5 mile journey were circulated to members with the approval from the Chair’’ be changed to “An example of charges for rate number one over a 5 mile journey were circulated to members with the approval from the Chair’’

“If objection/s are received by 18^th April 2019 Licensing & Regulatory Committee shall consider the objections prior to the approval of the increased Hackney Carriage fares within the Borough of Melton’’ be changed to ‘’If objection/s are received by 18^th April 2019 Licensing & Regulatory Committee shall consider the objections prior to the consideration of the proposal of the increased Hackney Carriage fares within the Borough of Melton’’.

The Assistant Director for Strategic Planning and Regulatory Services to submit a report to present to the Committee the results of the public consultation to the proposal to adjust the taxi tariff increase proposed on 11^th March 2019.

The Assistant Director for Strategic Planning and Regulatory Services introduced the report with the purpose being to present to the Committee the results of the public consultation on a proposal received on 11 March 2019 to adjust the Hackney Carriage tariff increase and seek approval to increase Hackney Carriage tariffs to commence on 1 July 2019 within the Borough of Melton.

The Assistant Director for Strategic Planning and Regulatory Services advised members that four responses to consultation had been received as shown in Appendix 6 - table of responses. The Licensing and Compliance Officer summarised the process that had been undertaken prior to the report being considered by members.

During the discussion, the following points were noted:

Members asked how the fares had been calculated and whether the fares were benchmarked with other Local Authorities and how the proposed charges compared to other Local Authorities. The Licensing and Compliance Officer confirmed that they had been presented by the drivers requesting ths adjustment but they had not provided detailed calculations, but had explained they were requested due to inflationary pressures since the last increase in 2015, and they had not been benchmarked and that they did not compare as other Local Authorities had more complex fares.

Members raised concerns that they could not determine how the percentage figures contained within the proposed table of fares had been arrived at and raised concerns that there was not a common thread when comparing the proposed figures

Members raised concerns that they did not have enough information to make an informed decision.

At 19:10, the Licensing Committee was adjourned. The Licensing Committee reconvened at 19:17.

Councillor Cumbers proposed to adjourn the debate until the next meeting of the Licensing Committee, Councillor Lumley seconded the motion.

Councillor Freer-Jones abstained from voting.

RESOLVED

That the Licensing Committee defer the matter to the next meeting of the Licensing Committee in order to seek responses and additional information to the points raised.

To consider any other items that the Chair considers urgent

No urgent items were presented in advance to the person presiding at the meeting.