BUSINESS CASE FOR INCREASING FARES SUBMITTED BY MANOJ ON BEHALF OF THE HACKNEY TAXI DRIVERS ASSOCIATION

Introduction

As Bracknell Forest Council is aware, the Hackney Carriage trade has not had a fare increase since 2011 (Existing Fares attached at Appendix B).This is now 10 years and although there were consistent efforts to achieve an increase in the last 3 years unfortunately it fell on deaf ears and nothing was done. I think we would all agree that a 10 year period with no increase was not helpful to the trade. We are now setting out our business case for an increase. The figures we are stating are not scientific but we feel they are a relatively accurate assessment of increases sustained by the trade over the last 10 years. A table of comparator fees is attached at Appendix C.

Summary of Business Case 2011/2021

	2011	2021
Hackney Licence	£220.00	£290.00
2 x MOT	£121.00	£121.00
Road Tax	£200.00	£235.00
Insurance	£899.00	£1,264
Tyres	£50 (per Tyre)	£65.00 (per Tyre)
Badge 3yrs	£195.00	£271.00
C&B / DBS	£50.00	£67.00
First Aid	£25.00	£42.00
Change of Vehicle	£35.00	£114.00

Our association is therefore proposing that the maximum Hackney Carriage fare be increased from £6.00 for a 2 mile fare to £6.80.

Conclusion

We hope Bracknell Forest Council will understand that the Taxi Trade like any other business cannot operate for decades without price increases. Even with the low inflation rates over the last 10 years inflation has been increasing and we have been made aware today (19^th May) from the consumer prices index (CPI) UK inflation has risen by 1.5% from March from 0.7% and is likely to increase further.

WE would like to remind you that a race to the bottom of fares (prices) for any taxi transfers will only result in corners being cut, cars not being repaired properly thus resulting in more risk to the residents of Bracknell