The Licensing Partnership Manager advised that on 1 February 2012 proposed fees for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire licensing had been put before the Committee. The Council had sent the proposals to over 400 consultees and the responses received were set out in the appendix to the report. The responses received were split evenly between those who supported and those who opposed the proposals.

Members asked what the argument was against a freeze in the fees. The Head of Environmental and Operational Services commented that the Council had budgeted for an inflationary increase of 3%. If the Committee decided to leave the fees unchanged then compensatory savings would have to be made elsewhere in the Council’s budget. It was also clarified that the fees would be considered again in one year and that the reference to “for three years” in the report was to the length of a licence and not for how long the fees would be held at that level.

Officers confirmed the tender for the medical supplier was being considered and a Portfolio Holder Decision was expected before the end of April 2012. Early indicators suggested the cost of the medical fee may fall to £50.

The Council was not permitted to consider an accompanying rise in the tariffs charged by drivers unless representations were received from the licensees. No representations had been received by the Council since 11 March 2011 when the matter was last considered by the Committee.

It was unanimously

Resolved:       that from 16 April 2012 the list of fees and associated costs for licences in respect of hackney carriage drivers and vehicles and private hire drivers, vehicles and operators be varied as set out in the report.