More than 200 taxi drivers in North East Lincolnshire have signed a petition organised by Taxis for Change – an organisation formed last year by drivers in the area – against a proposed hike in license fees.
North East Lincolnshire Council (NELC) plans to increase the fee, which is payable by both hackney taxi and private hire drivers, from £75.21 to £104.00.
Direct Debit
Currently the fee is required to be paid in one lump sum but Chairman of Taxis for Change, Susan Barss, has requested that drivers are allowed to pay in monthly instalments if the increase does come to pass.
She said: “I would ask that the increase is postponed for a year so that we have time to prepare for it.
“If the council does not agree with this, we ask them to make it possible for drivers to pay the fee in instalments, as you would pay for your council tax.”
No Notice to Cabbies
The plans have not been formally discussed with taxi drivers in the area and many have claimed that they were not pre-warned of the plans. Mrs Brass has said that she has spoken to cabbies who hadn’t even heard of the increase until she had informed them herself.
She commented: “No one has received a letter about it. NELC did put a notice about the consultation in the newspaper but not everyone will have seen it.
“The drivers will get a shock when their renewal comes through.”
Council Response
NELC said that the license fees have remained static since 2011 and they don’t feel that it’s unreasonable to make an increase this year.
Councillor, Hazel Chase, said: “The new proposed charging structure means we can cover administration and operational costs associated with hackney and private hire licensing and keep it running efficiently.”
Speaking on the direct debit request, Councillor, Terry Thurogood, said: “I pay my council tax monthly by Direct Debit and I don’t see much difference between what the taxi drivers are asking for and what we expect from all other council tax payers.”
Councillor Chase said that the petition would be considered in the usual process.