To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 24 January 2022.

The minutes of the meeting held on 24 January 2022 were submitted for approval.

Decision

To approve the minutes from the meeting on 24 January 2022 as a correct record.

Now contains the report of the Director of Planning, Building Control and Licensing.

LAP/22/04       Request for Hackney Carriage Fuel Surcharge

The Committee considered the content of the report of the Director of Planning, Building Control and Licensing which concerned a request from representatives of the Hackney Trade for a fuel surcharge to be applied on the Hackney Fare, ahead of a wider Fare Review. The report set out all the relevant considerations in relation to this request and the determination of Hackney Carriage Fares.

The Licensing Unit Manager informed the Committee that Section 2 of the report covered the decision making process and governance of all Hackney Carriage Fare variations, in that they are recommended to the Executive who determine the fares. Trade representatives had requested an increase of 60 to 80 pence increase. The Licensing Unit Manager referred the Committee to the table in the report showing fuel increases over time, dating back to April 2017. The Committee were to decide on an increase amount to recommend to the Executive.

The Chair invited the Committee to ask questions/make comments.

A Committee member asked why 60-80p amount had been the required amount?

The Licensing Unit Manager informed the member that the Trade had detailed this amount.

A Committee member asked if this amount would be put on the fare manually by drivers and if a meter adjustment would be considered.

The Licensing Unit Manager stated that there was a considerable cost for re-calibration of meters as well as the estimated time of 10 days to adjust all meters in the trade across Manchester. Also, there would be another wider Fare Review to follow so this would potentially double the exercise. The Licensing Unit Manager then informed the Committee that the decision made in 2008 was allowed as a manual alteration and reiterated that this was a temporary review.

A Committee member asked, if the full Fare Review was set for August/September, would this temporary fuel surcharge cover the interim period and what if there was a delay to the full review?

The Licensing Unit Manager stated that there were ongoing negotiations with the airport regarding the wider review charges and any delay would cause a risk to the service but a time limit may be imposed in that the wider review could be brought to Committee in July 2022.

A Committee member noted 2.5 in the report:

If objections are received, then the Licensing and Appeals Committee must consider those objections and set a date for any change to take effect no later than 2 months from the date of the original public notice.

This could put the surcharge back until August 2022, close to the Full Review.

The Licensing Unit Manager stated that this was correct but added that this same practice also applies to the wider review, which would then be moved back to November/December 2022, adding that it is likely that there will be objections to any fare increases.

The Deputy Chair questioned what would happen if the wider review brought about a lesser fare increase, after Committee endorsed this  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.