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A decision made (06/06/2008) regarding: Motor Traffic (Cabs - Fares and Charges) (Jersey) Order 2008.

Decision Reference: MD-T-2008-0046
Decision Summary Title :	Motor Traffic (Cabs – Fares and Charges) (Jersey) Order 2008		Date of Decision Summary:	2 June 2008
Decision Summary Author:	Alan Muir Head of DVS & Inspector of Motor Traffic		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt? (State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title :	Motor Traffic (Cabs – Fares and Charges) (Jersey) Order 2008		Date of Written Report:	2 June 2008
Written Report Author:	Alan Muir Head of DVS & Inspector of Motor Traffic		Written Report : Public or Exempt? (State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)	Public
Subject: Motor Traffic (Cabs – Fares and Charges) (Jersey) Order 2008
Decision(s): The Minister made the Motor Traffic (Cabs – Fares and Charges) (Jersey) Order 2008 which will increase controlled taxi fares with effect from 16th June 2008.
Reason(s) for Decision: To allow an increase in controlled taxi-cab fares so that a reasonable service can continue.
Resource Implications: None
Action required: Return the hard copy of the Order to the Publications Editor at the States Greffe as soon as it has been signed, sealed and dated. The Department to produce revised tariff cards for display in controlled taxi-cabs. Advise controlled taxi-cab licence holders to present their taxi-cabs to the Department at a convenient time after the Order takes effect to have their meters checked and sealed.
Signature:		Position:
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

Motor Traffic (Cabs - Fares and Charges) (Jersey) Order 2008.

TRANSPORT AND TECHNICAL SERVICES

MOTOR TRAFFIC (CABS – FARES AND CHARGES) (JERSEY) ORDER 2008

TAXI FARE INCREASE 2008

Purpose of the Report

To consider the Motor Traffic (Cabs – Fares and Charges) (Jersey) Order 2008, which will increase controlled taxi-cab tariffs.

Background

Controlled taxi-cab tariffs are set by the Minister, under the Motor Traffic (Jersey) Law, 1935. The last increase (4.5 percent plus increasing extras) occurred in July 2007. In May, the Jersey Taxi Drivers Association applied for an increase in tariffs requesting an average increase in tariffs of 9.9 percent.

Discussion

Two meetings have taken place with representatives of the Taxi Drivers Association to discuss the claim.

At both meetings on 16 May and 21 May the Minister made it plain to the JTDA that the claim would not be met.

The JTDA representatives pleaded that fuel costs and other motoring costs had soared in the past few months and were likely to continue rising throughout the coming year. Many of the drivers were in a mood to take industrial action and considered that tariff 3 should become the minimum tariff.

The Minister indicated that on the basis of the weighted RPI (Taxi) provided by the Head Statistician, an offer of an average of 5 percent on tariffs was reasonable in the light of the running costs of the operators and the general cost of living. The Minister indicated that he may be minded to offer a further increase if the industry abandoned “extras”.

Following discussion, a final offer of 7.5 percent on tariffs, weighted to tariff 1, including an allowance for recent increases in fuel costs was made on the condition that removal of the supplement for a hire starting at the airport or harbours was abandoned The JTDA representatives accepted this and agreed to recommend this to their members.

The Law Draftsman was asked to prepare the necessary changes to the Order on the basis of a brief provided by the Department.

The Motor Traffic (Cabs – Fares and Charges) (Jersey) Order 2008 is attached for the Minister to make the Order. Making the Order will implement the increase in charges described above and will come in to force on 16 June 2008.

The Department will make the necessary arrangements with the controlled taxi-cab licence holders to present their vehicles at Driver and Vehicle Standards to have their taxi-meters checked and sealed.

Recommendation

The Minister is recommended to make the Motor Traffic (Cabs – Fares and Charges) (Jersey) Order 2008 and request the Department to take the necessary action to implement the Order.

Reason(s) for Decision

To make the Motor Traffic (Cabs – Fares and Charges) (Jersey) Order 2008, to allow an increase in controlled taxi-cab fares.

Action Required

Minister to sign, seal and date the Motor Traffic (Cabs – Fares and Charges) (Jersey) Order 2008.

Request the Publications Editor to publish details of the Order in the Gazette.

Request the Department to produce revised tariff cards for display in controlled taxi-cabs.

Advise controlled taxi-cab licence holders to present their taxi-cabs to the Department at a convenient time after the Order takes effect to have their meters checked and sealed.

Written by:	Alan Muir

Approved by:	Caroline Anderson, Director of Transport

Attachments:

Draft Motor Traffic (Cabs – Fares and Charges) (Jersey) Order 2008.

ASM

2 June 2008