Taxi Driver Online :: View topic - Licensing fees up 43%

We had a 46% hike last year and we are supposed to be having similar hikes for the next 3 years. Apparently the taxi/PH licensing is being subsidised and the rise is to make it self financing and then the strange bit, "to bring prices in line with neiboring councils." what the hell that has to do with it I don't know.

grandad wrote:

If thats the case, then it may well be a secret directive to increase fees by central Government, which I find offensive.

Did your Authority hold any discussions with the trade before implementing the hike ?

, "to bring prices in line with neiboring councils."

Quote:

, "to bring prices in line with neiboring councils."

Licensing should cover the costs of the licensing regime.
What next door charges, the rate of inflation or anything else has nothing to do with it.

Quote:

, "to bring prices in line with neiboring councils."

Licensing should cover the costs of the licensing regime.
What next door charges, the rate of inflation or anything else has nothing to do with it.

Anyone operating Taxi/PH in the New expanded Cheshire area is about to be hit with a proposed 43% hike in Licensing fees, I would like to know if this is happening in other areas, your comments may well help to see if this is a nationwide hidden directive to fleece us all.

If thats the case, then it may well be a secret directive to increase fees by central Government, which I find offensive.

Author:	Alimo [ Fri Jan 23, 2009 12:13 pm ]
Post subject:	Licensing fees up 43%
Anyone operating Taxi/PH in the New expanded Cheshire area is about to be hit with a proposed 43% hike in Licensing fees, I would like to know if this is happening in other areas, your comments may well help to see if this is a nationwide hidden directive to fleece us all. I have already contacted my MP and he's been in touch with the DFT but so far no action.

Author:	toots [ Fri Jan 23, 2009 12:19 pm ]
Post subject:
Is that the Chester, Ellesmere Port thingy that merged recently

Author:	Alimo [ Fri Jan 23, 2009 12:22 pm ]
Post subject:
I have raised a petition on the Government website under the transport section titled "Overtaxedjobs" ( note no spaces between words ) the site is http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/overtaxedjobs/ If you think a 43% hike in fees is ridiculous please sign it so no other authority can try it on in future. If you take a look at the cheshire area on a map you will see its a vast area.

Author:	grandad [ Fri Jan 23, 2009 12:23 pm ]
Post subject:
We had a 46% hike last year and we are supposed to be having similar hikes for the next 3 years. Apparently the taxi/PH licensing is being subsidised and the rise is to make it self financing and then the strange bit, "to bring prices in line with neiboring councils." what the hell that has to do with it I don't know.

Author:	Alimo [ Fri Jan 23, 2009 12:35 pm ]
Post subject:
grandad wrote: We had a 46% hike last year and we are supposed to be having similar hikes for the next 3 years. Apparently the taxi/PH licensing is being subsidised and the rise is to make it self financing and then the strange bit, "to bring prices in line with neiboring councils." what the hell that has to do with it I don't know. If thats the case, then it may well be a secret directive to increase fees by central Government, which I find offensive. Did your Authority hold any discussions with the trade before implementing the hike ?

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Author:	skippy41 [ Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:35 pm ]
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I would have thought that they could only increase it by the rate of inflation. I would contact the traffic commissioner and bring it to his or her attention, even the council ombudsman may help

Author:	grandad [ Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:38 pm ]
Post subject:
Alimo wrote: grandad wrote: We had a 46% hike last year and we are supposed to be having similar hikes for the next 3 years. Apparently the taxi/PH licensing is being subsidised and the rise is to make it self financing and then the strange bit, "to bring prices in line with neiboring councils." what the hell that has to do with it I don't know. If thats the case, then it may well be a secret directive to increase fees by central Government, which I find offensive. Did your Authority hold any discussions with the trade before implementing the hike ? No discussions were held with the trade. The reason for the hike, from the council point of view, was because they were having to subsidise taxi/PH licensing. I will say that our costs were quite low. I have just looked again it was actually a 44% hike from £75 to £108 per year. We have not had confirmation of this years increase yet.

Author:	wannabeeahack [ Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:43 pm ]
Post subject:
what are your fees?

Author:	grandad [ Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:53 pm ]
Post subject:
wannabeeahack wrote: what are your fees? £108 for vehicle plate, either once or twice per year depending on age but twice a year for my limos regardless of age. You get a reduction of 25% for gas or electric vehicles and a 25% reduction for a WAV. £56 for drivers badge per year £129 for an "o" license for 2 years

Author:	gusmac [ Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:54 pm ]
Post subject:
Quote: , "to bring prices in line with neiboring councils." Licensing should cover the costs of the licensing regime. What next door charges, the rate of inflation or anything else has nothing to do with it.

Author:	grandad [ Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:56 pm ]
Post subject:
gusmac wrote: Quote: , "to bring prices in line with neiboring councils." Licensing should cover the costs of the licensing regime. What next door charges, the rate of inflation or anything else has nothing to do with it. That is basically what I said to our LO, although I think I may have perhaps used the odd expletive or two.

Author:	wannabeeahack [ Fri Jan 23, 2009 5:07 pm ]
Post subject:
gusmac wrote: Quote: , "to bring prices in line with neiboring councils." Licensing should cover the costs of the licensing regime. What next door charges, the rate of inflation or anything else has nothing to do with it. and if a neighbouring area charges less i assume they stick to price matching?

Author:	Alimo [ Fri Jan 23, 2009 5:09 pm ]
Post subject:
wannabeeahack wrote: what are your fees? Taxi or Ph vehicle £300 annual Additional 6 month test £100 Bi-annual Private Hire Operator fee £345 ( lasts 5 years) I note that today Gordon Brown says he will everything possible to "Get the country back on its feet ! Considering the Road Tax hike, the Licensing Fees, inreases in basic contributions and class4 and once again the rising fuel prices that they do nothing about ...................I think we will all be back on our feet fairly soon as we won't be able to afford to run with the loss of incomes we are seeing now.

Author:	Sussex [ Fri Jan 23, 2009 6:46 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Licensing fees up 43%
Alimo wrote: Anyone operating Taxi/PH in the New expanded Cheshire area is about to be hit with a proposed 43% hike in Licensing fees, I would like to know if this is happening in other areas, your comments may well help to see if this is a nationwide hidden directive to fleece us all. That seems quite a hike. I take it you or some of your colleagues have objected formally against the increases? Which should have been advertised in the local press. Ask them why they need such an increase?

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Author:	Sussex [ Fri Jan 23, 2009 6:51 pm ]
Post subject:
Alimo wrote: If thats the case, then it may well be a secret directive to increase fees by central Government, which I find offensive. Nothing to do with central Gov. The law states that vehicle license fees can only be used to fund the services of the taxi/PH licensing function i.e. staff, enforcement, licensing bureaucracy. Driver license fees must only be set to cover the costs of processing the license. So unless processing costs have gone up 43%, then your council is in breach of Manchester-v-King.