Taxi fares could rise – and waiting charges introduced for customers collecting takeaways

Lichfield District Council controls the maximum fares that can be charged by operators of Hackney Carriages in the area – taxi services licensed to ply for trade without being pre-booked. But it is one of just a handful of local authorities that currently does not allow drivers to charge customers for waiting time if they ask to stop off along the way to their end destination.

Hackney Carriage operators could soon be able to start charging for waiting time however, in line with other authorities. Increases in maximum fares are also on the cards, as well as a rise in the charge they can impose if customers soil their cab.

A consultation response report presented to the council’s cabinet said: “Drivers are sometimes asked to stop at fast food restaurants or cash points as part of the journey and are not recompensed for this waiting time. The waiting at these places impacts on a drivers ability to complete a fare and move to the next fare, therefore reducing potential earnings.

“Drivers have been previously advised that they can reset the meter when they arrive at a place where they are expected to wait or can refuse to go to fast food restaurants but this has resulted in passengers becoming verbally aggressive and claiming that the driver is acting unlawfully.”

The normal fare set in 2012 is £3.60 for the first mile (1,609 metres), rising by 17p for each further 176 yards (161 metres). There is also a second tariff of £4.80 for the first mile, rising by 23p for each subsequent 176 yards, if the hire begins between 12am and 6.59am on any day, between 6pm and 11.59pm on Christmas Eve or New Years’ Eve or on any public bank holiday.

A request has been made to increase the normal fare to £4 for the first mile and the second tariff charge to £5 for the first mile.

On Tuesday the council’s cabinet considered the charges recommended following a consultation and discussion by the authority’s Community, Housing and Heath Overview and Scrutiny committee. They gave the go-ahead for the cabinet member and Head of Regulatory Services, Housing and Wellbeing to consider the consultation responses and set the tariffs in accordance with those recommended.

Councillor Angela Lax, cabinet member for legal and regulatory, told Tuesday’s meeting: “The trade has requested a fare increase. They haven’t had a review of taxi charges since 2012.

“There are only six authorities in the country that don’t charge for waiting time and the view of overview and scrutiny is a charge should be implemented. They are not earning money if they can’t charge for waiting time.

“There was a discussion of how long waiting time should be and when a charge kicks in. The first 10 minutes should be free, then it kicks in at the equivalent of £15 per hour, in line with other authorities.

“With soilage charge there was a discussion to distinguish between being sick and bodily fluids. There was quite a strong view it should be set at £100 – it’s currently £50.

“Officers carried out a straw poll of drivers – one didn’t even know you could charge for this. The trade had asked us for £60 and the recommendation is £60 for soilage charge.”

Councillor Iain Eadie said of the proposed increases: “It is a positive thing for our taxi drivers but I would question if it is a positive thing for our residents. It is going to be a huge change for those who have to use taxis on a regular basis.

“It would be incredibly unfair for a passenger to be subject to a waiting charge when they’re stuck in traffic beyond their control. As long as the waiting charge is because the passenger has asked to stop to get a takeaway it’s reasonable.”