Hackney cab drivers in Knowsley are planning to turn up en masse to a Knowsley Council meeting which could agree “insulting” fee rises.
A meeting of the borough’s licensing committee is set to approve 10% fee increase for licences for hackney and private hire drivers – and it has left many “furious” with the plans. In documents produced ahead of the meeting, the council said it had frozen the fees last year due to the impact of the pandemic on the trade but needed to recoup costs this year.
Recommending a fee increase of 10%, the report stated that with inflation and cost increases, the figure should be 19% but the council didn’t want to place an “unfair burden” on drivers and companies, with the industry still recovering from the effects of the pandemic.
READ MORE: Updates from the funeral of tragic Elle Edwards
Speaking to the ECHO about the proposals Liverpool City Region Hackney Carriage Drivers Cooperative representative Tony Carr, who represents dozens of Kirkby cab drivers, described the plans as an “insult” to drivers in the borough.
He said changes to the licensing application process brought in by the council last year has left some drivers quitting the trade out of frustration – and others being left without licenses due to delays in getting renewals processed.
Tony said this has left many drivers – hackney and private hire alike - “furious” with the plans and said dozens of drivers could turn up at the licensing meeting tomorrow to make their views known. Tony said that not only had drivers not been made aware beforehand about the planned increases but they were also being assessed to pay for a “substandard” service.
He said: “If we were being provided a service more like pre pandemic levels then drivers would be more willing to fork out the extra 10%. But the way things are, we pay for the administration of the licenses, but it’s not being administered properly.”
Tony added that the council has been made aware of ways which could make the system more accessible, including having a front-of-house official to help with applications and ensuring vehicle certificates are handed out at the point of test but the council has yet to take these ideas forward.
Tony added: “Not all the drivers are up on IT and using the digital system. There should be someone available to assist but this isn’t happening. Given the state of licensing here in Knowsley it really is insulting at this stage to ask us to pay more.”
A spokesperson for Knowsley Council said drivers had been consulted on the change to a digital application system, which was rolled out in July 2022 and had processed 1,400 applications successfully since it was introduced.
The spokesperson said: “Taxi and private hire trade representatives were consulted during the development and implementation of the new system and continue to be consulted in relation to improving the service. The council is currently considering options for providing additional support to drivers should they experience difficulties using the system online, although the demand for such assistance has so far been low.”
On the proposed fee increases the spokesperson added: “The council’s licensing committee will meet on Thursday 26 January 2023 where a decision will be made on whether or not to increase the Licence Fees and Charges for the forthcoming year.
“Should the licensing committee approve the proposed increase then there is a statutory consultation process that will give interested parties the opportunity to object to the proposal.”
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
READ NEXT
Millions warned to check their mobile phones ahead of network changes next month
Over 1,700 roads could be made 20mph under new plan
Full list of Merseyside postcodes eligible for Cold Weather Payments
Brookside is returning to TV screens for the first time in 20 years
