The report of the Director of Planning, Building Control and Licensing is now 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 report also set out proposals in relation to the use of card payments in Hackney Carriage Vehicles.

The Committee was asked to consider, in relation to the Hackney Carriage Fare Tariff, recommending to the Executive that they:

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

The Committee was also asked to determine making the acceptance of card payments mandatory in all Hackney Carriage vehicles, effective from 1 September 2023.

The Chair invited the Committee to comment/ask questions regarding the report, but no questions were asked.

The Chair then invited members of the trade and their representatives to speak for three minutes each.

A member of Unite the Union addressed the Committee, noting theirs, and their members, support for the officer recommendations. They hoped that the Committee would support all recommendations in full.

A member of GMB addressed the Committee, echoing similar sentiments. They noted that there had only been a £1 change in flag tariffs since 2007. GMB agreed with all officer recommendations.

A member of the trade who represents drivers at the Airport, stating that they echoed previous comments. They did note concerns over increasing the flag tariff again, after only being increased in October 2022. They felt that the report had not been discussed with trade representatives and expressed that they wanted to have had input. They noted that a proposed increase in the charge for extras was not in the report after they thought they had been told it would be.

The Licensing Unit Manager noted that this report was an interim step, pending a fuller review in the near future. They had held general discussions with trade representatives regarding this report but there was not time to discuss a draft report in full. The Licensing Unit Manager considered that charges for extras would form part of the fuller review.

A member of the Manchester Hackney Association addressed the Committee, noting that increases in flag charges would mitigate the charges to drivers for card payments. They agreed with the recommendation to make card payments mandatory. The representative noted that 10 years was a long time with no review of waiting time charges and backed the increase to both day and night charges.

Decision

In relation to the Hackney Carriage Fare Tariff, the Committee agreed to recommend 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

The Committee also agreed to make the acceptance of card payments mandatory in all Hackney Carriage Vehicles and for the policy to take effect on 1 September 2023.