Meeting documents

Licensing Committee
Friday, 8th October, 2004 10.00 am

Place:
Committee Room 7, Civic Centre, Southend-on-Sea
 

Attendance Details

ItemDescriptionResolution
Part I
434 Apologies and substitutions.
 Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Cole (substitute Councillor Brown), Councillor Mrs Rayner (substitute Councillor Foster) and Councillor Terry.
435 Declarations of interest.
 There were no declarations of interest made at the meeting.
436 Review of Hackney Carriage Fares
Business for item 436
Resolved:

1. That the proposed revisions of the present Hackney Carriage fare and charges structure, at the request of Southend Taxi Drivers' Association, as shown at Appendix 1 be approved.

2. That an average 3.81% increase in fares be approved.

3. That, subject to the words "except during Christmas and New Year periods" appearing in bold text and the deletion of the words "(No Extra to be charged)" the fare chart attached at Appendix 3 to the report be approved.

4. That the proposed amendments to the Christmas/New Year charges be approved.

5. That the approved changes to the fare and extra charges structure be duly advertised.

6. That a more detailed study be undertaken in relation to the availability and levels of use of licensed vehicles as regards the night/unsocial hours charge, in particular between midnight and 4.00 a.m., and that the Crime and Disorder Partnership Strategy Board be requested to examine and report upon the effectiveness of the charge, the content of which report to be submitted to a future meeting of the Committee.
10.00 a.m./10.55 a.m.

Attendance Details

Present:
Councillor D J Jarvis (Chairman),
Councillors Mrs M F Evans (Vice-Chairman), N M Baker, R A H Brown* , M F Foster* & Mrs T M Merrison
(* Substitute in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 31(b)(2))
In attendance:
J Baker, C Gabell, A Evans, S Whiston & T Row
Mr B Fryer (Southend Hackney Carriage Drivers Association), Mr D Watts (Southend Hackney Carriage Drivers Association), Mr J Van Der Ploeg (Southend Private Hire Car Drivers Association) and Mr N Chambers (Private Hire Care Drivers Association)

Business

ItemBusiness
436The Committee received a report of the Director of Technical and Environmental Services that sought Members' views on the applications from the Southend Taxi Drivers' Association for an increase in the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire vehicle fares and charges and other associated amendments.

The Committee was informed that the introduction of the night charge for unsocial hours between midnight and 4.00 a.m. had appeared to be having some effect on the levels of vehicle availability during those times. A copy of a letter received from Chief Superintendent Thwaites indicating this was circulated at the meeting by Mr Fryer. The Committee however, expressed its concern at the lack of data to support this charge and concluded that a further more detailed study into the availability and usage of licensed vehicles during these times should be undertaken and that the Crime and Disorder Partnership Strategy Board be requested to examine and report upon the effectiveness of the change.

The Committee was also informed that the fare chart set out at appendix 3 to the report stated that the standard extra charges would not be made. This was however an error and, should the Committee be minded to approve this option, the standard extra charges would be made in this instance.

 

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