To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 17 July 2023.

The minutes of the meeting held on 17 July 2023 was submitted.

Decision

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 17 July 2023 as a correct record.

The report of the Director of Planning, Building Control and Licensing is enclosed.

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Planning, Building Control and Licensing, that set out the relevant information the Committee would need to consider, to enable it to make recommendations to the Executive in relation to the Hackney Carriage Fare tariff. The Committee had previously considered a report on 17 July 2023 that outlined relevant information to review the Hackney Carriage Fares.

The Committee made the following recommendations to the Executive:

1)    Increase the unit cost per mile on all tariffs by 8%

2)    Increase the waiting time fare by 23%

3)    Increase the Day flag tariff to £3.40

4)    Increase the Night flag tariff to £3.80

Hackney Trade representatives were present at the Committee meeting 17 July, where the Committee was informed that the majority of members supported the proposals.

The Committee was advised that a notice was placed in the Manchester Evening News on 15 September 2023 setting out the proposed changes for Hackney Carriage Fares. Seven objections were received to the proposed changes. The reasons for the objections were as follows:

• Private hire companies are cheaper and therefore the increase will mean more lost business;
• Customer feedback to drivers is that they are expensive anyway;
• Upfront flag is too high and could have an adverse effect;
• Cost of other public transport is getting cheaper so believe this will kill the trade.

From the seven objections were submitted, six were from Hackney Carriage drivers. Two Hackney Carriage drivers had submitted two objections. The five objections were set out in the appendix to the report submitted.

The Chair then invited members of the trade and their representatives to speak on the proposed changes to fares.

Representatives of Unite the Union and ATA (Union) addressed the Committee and stated that the proposals were supported by the majority of the 1882 members with three opposing the changes. Unite represented 375 members of the Hackney Carriage trade and ATA represented 88 members at Manchester Airport. Reference was made to the rising costs including insurance for Hackney Carriages, and the requirement to upgrade vehicles. These cost-of-living increases had contributed to a reduction in the number of Hackney Carriage drivers. 

At this point the chair requested all parties to leave the meeting room to allow the Committee to consider the proposal and the submissions received in private.

All parties were readmitted into the meeting room and were informed of the Committee decision.

Decision

To recommendthe following changes to Hackney Carriage Fares to the Executive:

• Increase the unit cost per mile on all tariffs by 8%
  
  
• Increase the waiting time fare by 23%
  
  
• Increase the Day flag tariff to £3.40
  
  
• Increase the Night flag tariff to £3.80.