Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Jimmy Brookes, George Horton and Neil Jones.

At this point in the meeting, Members were asked to disclose any relevant interests. The following interests were disclosed:

·       Councillor Carl Macey asked it be noted that he was a personal licence holder.

·       Councillor Andrew Leonard asked it be noted that he was a personal licence holder and a Magistrate.

·       Councillor Graham Cullen asked it be noted that he was a personal licence holder.

To confirm the Open and Exempt Minutes of the General Licensing Meeting held on 18 November 2024.

The Open and Exempt Minutes of the General Licensing Meeting held on 18 November 2024 were agreed as a correct record.

Report of the Group Manager Public Protection.

An open report was submitted by the Group Manager - Public Protection which asked the Committee to consider requests from two MOT garages wishing to be appointed to carry out hackney carriage and private hire vehicle tests on behalf of the Council.

The role of the approved garages was to carry out the vehicle inspections that had to be undertaken before a hackney carriage or private hire vehicle licence could be issued or renewed by the Authority.

The Licensing team recommendations were:

1.    That as of 3 February 2025 the following MOT testing stations be appointed to carry out hackney carriage and private hire vehicle compliance tests on behalf of the Authority:

·       East Lindsey District Council Vehicle Maintenance Unit, Warwick Road, Fairfield Industrial Estate, Louth, LN11 0YB

·       Bromley’s Vehicle Servicing & Repairs Limited, Unit 8 The Meridian Centre, Belvoir Way, Fairfield Industrial Estate, Louth, LN11 0LQ

2.    That the section of the Council’s hackney carriage and private hire licensing policy, relating to the restriction on vehicle testing station numbers, be amended to read as:

‘The Council has appointed its Vehicle Maintenance Unit (VMU) to the list of approved testing stations. In addition to the VMU, a further number of testing stations, to a maximum number of 20, will be appointed to the list of approved testing stations’.

The Senior Licensing Officer set out the background to the report.

Following which, it was

RESOLVED

That East Lindsey District Council Vehicle Maintenance Unit, Warwick Road, Fairfield Industrial Estate, Louth, LN11 0YB and Bromley’s Vehicle Servicing & Repairs Limited, Unit 8 The Meridian Centre, Belvoir Way, Fairfield Industrial Estate, Louth, LN11 0LQ be appointed as MOT testing stations to carry out hackney carriage and private hire vehicle compliance tests on behalf of the authority from 3 February 2025.

Report of the Group Manager Public Protection.

Neil Brooks, Senior Licensing Officer, presented Members with a report which enabled them to undertake an annual review of the Maximum Hackney Carriage Fare Structure. 

It was noted the last variation of the hackney carriage fare structure took place in October 2023. The Committee revisited the fare structure in September 2024 and decided to adjourn any further review until the beginning of 2025.

The Council had received separate submissions from the Skegness Taxi Owners Association (STOA) and the Skegness & District Taxi Drivers Association (SDTDA) regarding the fare structure review.  Members were referred to the submissions at Appendix 2 of the report.

Both associations requested that the daytime flagfall increased from £4.00 to £5.00. In addition, the STOA were asking for the booking fee / call out charge to be increased from 75p for each mile to £1.00 for each mile.

Officer advice was that the Committee should always be persuaded of the need to vary the fare structure before embarking on such a course of action. In reviewing the fare structure, the Committee should look to ensure customers received a fair deal whilst ensuring that hackney carriage vehicle drivers were able to make a living working in the trade.

Mr Gray, Chairman of the Skegness & District Taxi Drivers Association, addressed the Committee and explained that he felt an increase was necessary due to the price rise in fuel, vehicle tax and insurance.  Mr Gray also informed Members that the price of servicing cars, as well as household bills had also increased.

Members thanked Mr Gray for his attendance and sympathised with his position. 

Further to a brief discussion, Members agreed to vary the fare structure as outlined in Appendix 2.

Following which, it was

RESOLVED

That amendments be made to the maximum hackney carriage fare structure subject to the necessary statutory notice being advertised and there being no objection from the public or the taxi trade.