Private hire and black cab drivers in Somerset are shocked at the news that license fees are set to take a massive hike.
Lack of Information
A meeting was due to be held on the 12th of April but had to be rescheduled due to the council’s failure to inform local drivers that the meeting was taking place.
Roger Woodland, owner of local taxi firm, CR Taxis, commented: “I received a call at 5.40pm on Monday from a fellow taxi operator based in Yeovil. He told me that by chance he’d noticed on the council’s website that there was to be an open meeting at 10am on Tuesday.
“I would’ve thought that if the objections to the proposal were to be discussed, then those opposing would be given the opportunity to attend the meeting, prepare their case and put forward their reasoning behind their objections.
“Having spoken to a few taxi drivers in the last week it’s apparent that almost all of them had no idea the meeting was taking place this morning and a large majority of them didn’t know that the fee increases were going to happen.”
Fearing for Local Businesses
At the rescheduled meeting on the 26th April, Councillors voted unanimously in favour of the increase which will see black cab drivers paying an extra £45 per year and private hire drivers having to pay a whopping £670 extra over five years.
The changes are due to come into effect on the 31st of May and the news has come as a surprise to most, leaving worried drivers fearing that it’ll put firms out of business.
Mr Woodland said: “It’s going to come as a shock when these new fees start and there’s a strong possibility that the number of taxi operators in the area may decline and service levels will drop. It’s a shame because I firmly believe that we provide a very valuable service to the community, especially school children, the elderly and the infirm.”
Council Response
A spokesman for South Somerset District Council said: “Due to an administrative error, those who wrote to the district council objecting to the increased taxi license fee were unfortunately not sent a copy of the licensing committee meeting agenda.
“Making note of the error, the item was not discussed at the meeting on the 12th and the licensing manager had the item deferred until the April 26th meeting, when objectors will receive a copy of the agenda in advance.
“Once the licensing committee agreed the fees and charges for 2016/17, they were recommended to full council as part of the budget setting process.
“Once the objections are considered, the council can either modify the fees in light of the objections or decide that the fees as originally proposed are to come into effect on a date to be specified.”