Issue - items at meetings - Taxi Tariff Setting Under the New Constitution

Report of the Director of Strategy & Governance (copy attached).

RESOLVED -

(1)   That the Cabinet be recommended to agree that an advisory committee to the executive be established for the purpose of advising on licensing functions that are the responsibility of the Executive, including setting taxi fares;

(2)   That the membership of the advisory committee mirrors the Licensing Committee membership; 

(3)   That power be delegated to the Director of Environment to set taxi fares after considering the recommendations of the advisory committee in (1) above in accordance with the report as amended; and 

(4)   That the Head of Law be authorised to make the necessary amendments to the Constitution to reflect the above.

44.1       The Committee considered a report of the Director of strategy & Governance, concerning the procedure for setting taxi fares to comply with the law, whilst retaining the expertise of the Licensing Committee (for copy see minute book). 

44.2       The Head of Law introduced the report and explained that the proposals were being forward in order to address an anomaly caused by legislation whereby the approval for setting taxi tariffs has become an Executive function.  It is felt that the expertise of the Licensing Committee in this respect should be retained and therefore it is proposed that it should continue to hear the proposals and representations as an Advisory Committee and to then make recommendations to either the Director, having delegated authority, or the Cabinet for final decision.  The Head of Law also reported that the Taxi Forum had been consulted and were supportive of the recommendations.

44.3       Members of the Committee noted the proposals and felt that there was a need to ensure that if the Director was minded to reject the Advisory Committee’s recommendations that they would be referred to the Cabinet for consideration.  It was therefore agreed that the wording in paragraph 3.6 should be amended accordingly to remove the words ‘be expected to’ and that recommendation 2.3 be amended to include reference to the revised report.

44.4       The Chairman noted the concern raised by Members of the Committee and put the recommendations as amended to the Committee for approval.

44.5       RESOLVED -

(1)   That the Cabinet be recommended to agree that an advisory committee to the executive be established for the purpose of advising on licensing functions that are the responsibility of the Executive, including setting taxi fares;

(2)   That the membership of the advisory committee mirrors the Licensing Committee membership; 

(3)   That power be delegated to the Director of Environment to set taxi fares after considering the recommendations of the advisory committee in (1) above in accordance with the report as amended; and 

(4)   That the Head of Law be authorised to make the necessary amendments to the Constitution to reflect the above.