Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors John Brynmor Hughes and Rheinallt Puw.

To receive any declaration of personal interest.

No declarations of personal interest were received from any members present.

To note any items that are a matter of urgency in the view of the Chairman for consideration.

None to note

The Chairman shall propose that the minutes of the meeting of this Committee, held on 24^th October 2022 be signed as a true record. 

The Chair signed the minutes of a meeting of this committee, that took place on 24 October 2022, as a true record

To submit, for information, minutes of the General Licensing Sub-committee meeting held on the following date –

a)    4^th October 2022

Accepted, for information, the minutes of the General Licensing Sub-committees held on 4 October 2022

To approve a proposal to increase the maximum taxi fares and consider representation  following public consultation on raising the maximum fares

DECISION

• To approve the proposal to increase the maximum fare in accordance with the recommendations, subject to withdrawing the recommendation for additional tariff for journeys in a mini bus where there are between 5 and 8 passengers.

a)      Submitted - the report of the Licensing Manager, recommending raising maximum hackney carriage fees in the County. Members were reminded, in accordance with The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 that places regulation duties on the Licensing Authority in relation to operating a maximum fare the public can be charged when travelling in hackney vehicles within the County, it is required that any request to change the maximum fare charged is submitted by the industry. It was confirmed that 5 recent requests had been received from the taxi company owners to review the fares and that these fares were for hackney vehicles only and not private vehicles.  In a meeting on 24 October, recommendations were presented from the Licensing Authority to increase some fares. The Committee decided to approve the recommendations as well as conducting a public consultation for 14 days. It was reported that correspondence had been submitted to the taxi industry before the consultation officially started, providing the opportunity for the industry to consider the proposals. Five objections were received with observations from representatives from the industry - no observations were received from the public. It was explained, as objections had been received to the proposal, that there was a need to re-submit recommendations so the Committee could give careful consideration to the matter before a final decision was made.

Reference was made to those factors that had affected taxi businesses recently (lockdown period during covid 19, a significant increase in fuel costs together with a significant increase in inflation) noting that these had been factors that affected everyone.  The importance of evaluating the impact of the current situation was noted, ensuring fairness for the industry and taxi users. It was added that some community plans, with the support of grants, by collaborating with social hubs offer free transportation services to vulnerable users as taxi prices were too expensive. This is seen in Penygroes and Bethesda areas

Despite accepting the industry's observations, the Licensing Unit recommended to continue with the original observations but accepted the observation to remove the proposal of creating an additional tariff for journeys in a minibus where there were between 5 and 8 passengers. It was considered that this proposal, in accordance with the industry's unanimous observations, was open to misuse and there was no worth to it.

b)      During the ensuing discussion, the following observations were made by Members:

·         That the report was clear and balanced

·         That there was a need to protect the industry but on the other hand consider the effect on the users

·         Welcome the consultation and the willingness of the Committee to discuss the observations

·         Difficult to get this service in Dwyfor - bus service reducing and costs of taxis increasing

c)      In response to a question regarding that the observations received reflected urban and rural matters  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.