Proposed recommendations to raise the fees for taxi licences have been agreed after Cyngor Gwynedd's general licensing committee met on Monday, June 12.
The committee considered plans to raise the charges to recommended levels - subject to a consultation with the taxi industry and public notice.
The Daily Post reports that the rises would allow the council to recover its costs and could mean an average increase of around 12%.
Since 2013, the council has annually reviewed its fees for hackney carriage licences, private hire vehicle licences, private hire operator licences and drivers' licences.
By law, the council can make a charge to cover reasonable costs for granting a driver’s licence for a hackney or private hire vehicle, and towards costs associated for processing, administration and issuing licences.
They can also charge for granting a vehicle and operator’s licence, for inspection costs, hackney carriage stands, public notices, management and supervision of vehicles and the costs associated with application processing.
Taxi fees cannot be increased to raise income for the council - only to recoup cash for processing and administering licences.
Gwynedd's fees were previously increased by 25% in 2013, 19.78% in 2014, and 10.78% in 2015. In 2016/17 and in 2017/18, they did not increase at all - but it was agreed to increase them at an average of 28% across the various taxi licensing fees for 2018/19.
However, during the Covid crisis, in March 2021 a recommendation was made that all taxi fees should be increased in line with inflation. At the time that was 2.59% - although that rise was not considered "enough to fully recover the council's costs."
Then the authority had felt the taxi industry had "faced significant losses" during lockdowns. It was decided not to recommend the full recovery of costs, beyond the level set in 2018/19.
However, amid recent rising inflation and higher costs of providing the taxi licensing service, the matter came before the committee.
They also considered the cost of officers' training needs, advertising and consulting on fee changes, and an increased level of checks required to ensure the suitability of drivers, vehicles and operators.
A report also pointed to "changes on the horizon" such as completing the review of the Combined Taxi Policy, which will adopt the recommendations of the DfT's National Statutory Hackney and Private Hire Vehicle Standards; and incorporating proposals in the Welsh Government's White Paper consultation over taxi industry regulation.
The committee's report stated "Having considered all the factors noted, we believe there is not much choice but to increase the fees if we are to maintain the service expected by the public and the industry."
What the recommendations could mean:
A one year taxi driver's licence currently £233 rising to £254 in 2023/24
A three year's taxi driver's licence, now £270, up to £353
A new hackney vehicle licence, currently £232 (total includes internal and external plates (hackney and private hire) and sticker (private hire) increase to £259
A renewal of a hackney vehicle licence (total includes internal and external plates (hackney and private hire), and sticker (private hire) up from £197 to £213
Transfer of a HV licence to a new owner, and the charge for transfer of PH licence would remain at £75
A new PH licence currently £268 (total includes internal and external plates (hackney and private hire), and sticker (private hire) up to £295
Renewal of PH licence (total includes internal and external plates (hackney and private hire), and sticker (private hire) from £197 to £213
A one year operator's' licence now £236, rising to £257, a three year's operator's licence from £275 to £300 and a five year's operator's licence from £329 to £358
A licensing committee member said "Several committee members had felt it was now important to recommend raising the fees."
Source: https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/gwynedd-taxi-licence-fee-hike-27108803#
London's Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) generated more than £224m last year, official figures show.
Data obtained by the BBC has found that roughly a third of the money came from penalty charge notices (PCNs), with the rest from daily charge payments.
Transport for London (TfL) says the money is used to cover "set-up costs" for the ULEZ expansion and "running and improving" the rest of the network.
The zone will expand on 29 August, encompassing all London boroughs.
Through data obtained via a freedom of information request, the BBC has found ULEZ generated £224,633,003 in 2022, an average of £18.7m a month.
Money came in through two streams: daily charges and PCNs.
Any vehicle driven within the zone must meet ULEZ emission standards, or pay a £12.50 daily charge.
Those drivers who fail to pay up will receive a PCN of £180, although this figure is reduced to £90 if paid within a fortnight.
Last year, £151.3m was generated through daily charges, with £73.3m in PCNs.
ULEZ was launched in April 2019, covering the same area as the existing London congestion zone. Two and a half years later, the zone expanded - demarcated by the North and South Circular roads.
From August, the zone will become 18 times larger, covering the whole of London.
A wild water fight broke out in the centre of Edinburgh on Tuesday morning, 13 June, as colourful taxis paraded through the Scottish capital - all in the name of a good cause.
EdinburghLive reports that the annual Edinburgh Taxi Outing has been running since 1947, where children with life-altering disabilities and terminal illnesses are ferried around in style as part of a day they will never forget.
Taxis were seen dressed up in incredible decorations, with bright balloons and ribbons flowing from the cabs as the sound of laughter almost drowned out the endless car horns signalling the parade was nearby.
On Shandwick Place in the west end, water balloons flew at the taxis – almost all of which had their windows open to combat the incredible heat the capital was experiencing. It meant there were more than a few soaked drivers, who carried on with a smile on their faces.
The smiles were even bigger on the faces of the children on board, who hung out of the windows to catch out tourists unawares with water guns. The vast majority got involved in the incredible atmosphere that makes the day so special.
The procession left from Edinburgh Zoo at 10am, with dozens of cabs lined up to take part in the yearly festivities.
There was a pit stop at the famous Lucas café in Musselburgh so the kids could refuel on ice cream, before they took the coastal road out to Direlton at 12.45pm, where they enjoyed a day on the beach.
Prizes were also up for grabs as part of the parade, with awards going to best balloons and best float, as well as the driver and child with the best fancy dress.
Staff from the City Cabs office on Shandwick Place poured out on the street to kickstart the water fight.
Their chairman, Steven McDermott, told Edinburgh Live: “It’s our 75th anniversary of this event and it’s such a good cause. Taxi drivers donate their time to take a whole bunch of kids that have various disabilities to the beach.
“The weather is absolutely cracking. They go all the way from Edinburgh Zoo to Direlton and get ice cream on their way. It doesn’t matter if it’s raining or it’s sunny, we all love it.
“It’s really good to see all the smiling faces. Everybody’s out to support the day. Worries aside, stresses aside, everybody’s out to have fun.
“I did see a few people walking past without a clue of what’s going on. Because the route comes past our office, we’re prepared every year to smash them with the hose and all the ammunition.”
Source: https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/famous-edinburgh-taxi-outing-winds-27112253
A taxi driver transferred £200 into a man’s bank account in a fraud committed by three passengers, Bradford Crown Court heard.
The Telegraph and Argus reports that Rizwan Khaliq, 43, from Bradford Moor, Bradford, was sentenced for his role in the fraud that took place on the evening of March 4 last year.
The court heard that the scam unfolded when another man was picked up by the taxi driver in Halifax and taken to Leeds Road in Bradford.
Two more male passengers, including Khaliq, then got into the vehicle.
It was said that the men appeared to fall out over a debt and a knife was produced.
They then demanded money from the driver and he transferred £200 into a bank account belonging to one of them.
All three men were later seen exchanging money in a takeaway.
Khaliq pleaded guilty to defrauding the taxi driver.
His barrister Kristina Goodwin said he had spent time in custody before being granted bail on a curfew.
A father-of-three, he was working in the building trade and had sought help with his substance misuse.
Deputy Circuit Judge Peter Armstrong sentenced Khaliq to a 12-month community order with 15 rehabilitation activity days and a nine-month drug rehabilitation order.
He was ordered to pay £200 compensation to the taxi driver.
Source: https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/23587313.bradford-man-sentenced-defrauding-taxi-driver/#
A cap on taxi licences for certain types of vehicles has been lifted by Stirling councillors.
At a meeting last week, Stirling Council’s planning and regulation panel voted to remove the cap on licences for electric, hybrid and wheelchair accessible vehicles to help meet customer demand.
The panel also decided all taxis can now operate across the Stirling Council area. Previously, 11 of the 82 licences available were restricted to operating outside Stirling city, mostly in rural areas.
Conservative councillor Rachel Nunn, however, was backed on her suggestion that the impact this could have on Stirling’s rural communities should be monitored.
She also raised her wish that accessible vehicles of more than five years old be allowed to be purchased by those seeking licences from both a cost and environmental perspective.
However, officials said while “a good point” it was important to be conscious that taxis clocked up more miles than other vehicles and were also subject to stringent and more frequent testing, so this would require more consideration.
Rural impact was also raised by Labour councillor Gerry McGarvey, with licensing officers acknowledging that there were at times “competing pressures” over taxis in the city centre of a type which didn’t apply to those in the more rural wards.
The decisions were taken after consultation with taxi drivers, operators and Police Scotland and follow the recommendations from a Stirling Taxi Unmet Demand Survey.
The council appointed the Licensed Vehicles Survey and Assessment (LVSA) to undertake the survey, which concluded there was a significant unmet demand for taxis in Stirling city centre.
Council officers will also undertake a feasibility study on the introduction of a new, night-time taxi rank in the centre.
The LVSA report suggested a new rank on Dumbarton Road, near Port Street, as the preferred option - but alternative locations on Corn Exchange Road and Baker Street could also be considered.
There are currently 82 taxi vehicle licences issued by the council, 11 of which are restricted to operating outside Stirling city. The consultants said this had, in effect, resulted in a de facto zone restriction system for taxi licences operating in Stirling.
The LVSA also found, however, that there was no unmet demand in terms of licences for private hire vehicles, of which there are 108 in the Stirling area.
The council currently licenses 17 accessible vehicles as taxis and 12 as private hire. There is currently a condition attached to 11 of the taxi licence vehicles stipulating that these must be wheelchair accessible vehicles, however, no similar conditions are attached to private hire vehicles.
A report considered by panel members said 17 individuals were on the waiting list to be allocated a taxi licence.
Source: https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/stirling-taxi-licences-cap-lifted-30131571
Dramatic CCTV footage has captured the moment a hooded figure set a taxi alight on a residential driveway.
A Drongan taxi driver has been convicted of sexually assaulting a female passenger after offering to waive her fare in exchange for sex.
Artur Nowostawski has been jailed for six years and nine months after he attacked a taxi driver earlier this year.
Taxi drivers in the city are facing significant financial losses after a series of electric vehicle charging point failures left them unable to operate.
Police are appealing for help to trace a man who disappeared after getting into a taxi bound for the Otley area of Leeds.
The company’s operator licence includes a condition ordering all drivers to undergo the same training as those from other companies.
Police have stopped a private hire driver who was driving the wrong way on the M1 close to Junction 8 at Hemel Hempstead.
Newcastle City Council is set to introduce strict new measures to tackle illegal and inconsiderate parking near Newcastle International Airport.
West Mercia Police is appealing for information following a rape that took place in Malvern's Priory Park early on Sunday, August 4th.
Glasgow taxi users could be facing a near-10% fare increase and extended night-time charges.
At least 14 cars have been damaged since June, with drivers suffering financial loss and emotional distress.
The attack happened at around 12.45pm on Etruria Vale Road, Stoke, when the victim, driving a Toyota Avensis, was punched in the face by one of the men.
Cumberland Council has taken decisive action to protect public safety by revoking the licence of a taxi driver charged last week with a serious racially aggravated offence.
A historic bridge has been closed indefinitely after an Uber car became wedged on Saturday morning.
A local councillor has sparked a debate on passenger safety after claiming that using locally licensed taxis is safer than hailing an Uber.
A taxi driver was attacked and subjected to racist abuse after two brothers refused to pay him up front.
Christopher Hilling, 64, admitted to engaging a child in sexual activity at Chelmsford Crown Court on Thursday 8 August.
Abdigani Ebrahim, 38, of Grangetown, admitted charges of affray and criminal damage following the incident in Northcote Street, Roath, last July.
The crackdown targeted drivers operating across council boundaries to ensure public safety and compliance with regulations.
Lucio Valentino relies on his six-year-old Border Collie, Pixel, to help manage his mental health conditions, including depression and personality disorders.