Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held 5 October 2016 be approved as a correct record.

Consideration was given to enforcement actions by the Licensing Service in the period October to January 2017.  It was reported that a number of Executive Hire Operator Licences, not operating locally, had been surrendered.

RESOLVED:

That the contents of the report be noted.

Consideration was given to the request from the Buxton Operators and Drivers Association to increase the metered fares of the Council’s licensed Hackney Carriages.  The request had been amended to include increasing 1 Fares for distance: b) For each subsequent 1/10^th thereafter (Appendix 2 - Proposed Table of Metered Fares refers) from 26p to 30p daytime and 36p tp 40p night.

Charges in neighbouring authorities, the needs of residents, regular users not necessarily being charged standard rates, one off users being a different market, all Hackney Carriage Licences having been allocated, request for increase across the Borough just from Buxton Drivers and Operators, six years since the last tariff increase, drivers’ costs, the Authority’s duty to consider requests and the 14 day consultation period were discussed.

RESOLVED:

1.            That approval be given to the proposed variation of the Table of metered fares charged by Hackney Carriages as amended (updated Appendix 2 to the report).

2.            That the Operations Manager be authorised to advertise the proposed fee increases in line with the procedure set out in Section 65 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976. An advertisement to be placed in the Local Paper and a copy displayed at the Council Offices.

3.         That, after the 14 day consultation period, if no objections are received the updated Table of Fares be recommended to Full Council for approval. If objections are received authority be delegated to the Chairman and Vice-Chairman to decide whether consideration at an additional Licensing Committee is required, before Full Council.

The report introduced the proposed Hackney Carriage Decals as required by the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy. The change of colour of the current Hackney Carriage Plates was due to poor visibility and Trade representations. Publicising the changes and examples of various sizes, layout, background and colours were considered. It was reported that quotes would be sought to fit all the decals and as required in the future.

RESOLVED:

1.            That the following decals be approved:

Bonnet: Clear and oval, unless black vehicle then a white background until vehicle changed.

Door Panel: small example to include Borough Council logo.

2.            That red plates be approved. 

The report updated the Committee on the proposed Fees and Charges for Private Hire and Hackney Carriage licences. It was also reported the vehicle testing facility at Water Swallows Garage would not being available after 1 April 2017. The project underway to have a list of approved garages in the Borough was expected to take between 4 – 6 months to complete the planned actions.

Discussion took place on changes to the fees, ANSA discussions and maintenance, monitoring and inspection audit trails leading to garages being rated as either green, amber or red for MOT testing.

            RESOLVED:

1.         That approval be given to the proposed Taxi Licences – Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicles fees and charges (Appendix A to the report).

2.         That approval be given to the project and actions outlined in section 3.4 of the report, to draw up a list of MOT Testing approved garages, preferably with green or amber status if necessary.

3.         That the report be noted.

Consideration was given to the application for an additional Hackney Carriage Licence to be granted to operate a Horse-Drawn Landau Carriage that will accommodate 6 passengers and provide a scenic tour of Castleton.

It was reported that the Council currently limits the number of Hackney Carriage Licences to 136 in the Borough, although it can at any time remove the limit on the amount of available licences. Removal or extension to the existing limit may be seen as unreasonable by the existing Hackney Carriage Trade.

Enforcement, conditions, independent monitoring and delegation to the Operation Manager (Regulatory Services) were discussed.

RESOLVED:

1.         That having considered all the information from the Sub-Committee report and Decision Notice dated 24 February 2017, approval be given to  the application made by Yorkshire Carriage Company.

2.         That having considered all the information approval be given to an additional increase in the number of hackney carriages of up to 5 in the Borough, to be reserved for horse drawn vehicles only, and that the delegation and issue of these five licences be granted to the Operations Manager.