Thursday 08 October 2015
Media Enquiry from Guernsey Press:
I have a media enquiry for you on the back of the Gazette Officielle notice about the maximum taxi fares.
The notice says board members voted in favour of increasing the maximum fares chargeable by metered taxis by 1.54%, representing a two year rise.
I was wondering if I could get the Environment Department's reasoning behind this please? Why did the board agree to do this? Why did the board think an increase was necessary?
Can the department confirm what this percentage increase means in real terms? How much will it add in pound/pence onto a fare? For instance, how much extra will it cost to travel to say the Weighbridge Roundabout to the Airport? How much is it currently? And how much extra would it cost to travel from the Weighbridge to the Bridge?
My understanding is that the department is going out to consultation on this. Could you confirm this?
Additional Enquiry:
Can add a further question to my enquiry regarding taxis earlier today?
Can the department give us an update on the below, which was in its Transport Strategy?
'What government can readily do is issue new "special plates" with conditions attached that do not exist on the current plates. One condition would be to prevent the trade of these new plates. Other conditions would be likely to relate to the times the plate can be operated and the conditions the vehicle/driver must meet e.g. World host training, accommodation for and training in assisting disabled people etc. Such new plates would be targeted to fill the perceived gaps and shortfalls in current service provision reducing its direct competition with the current taxis. The Department will fully investigate this option.'
Environment Department Response:
Fare charges are calculated annually according to the Halcrow formula, which was devised by an independent body (Halcrow Group Limited) some years ago. The formula includes elements such as the cost of vehicle servicing, insurance, fuel etc.
There is a standing agreement between the Environment Department and the Taxi Owners Federation that the formula will apply, but that either side may reject the outcome if it deems it inappropriate.
Once the formula has been calculated the result is considered by the Environment Board and may be accepted or rejected. If it is accepted it is passed on to the Taxi Owners Federation which is invited to consult its member drivers before accepting or rejecting the outcome. Taxi Owners Federation is at liberty to submit its own claim which the Environment Board is bound to consider.
In 2014 the outcome of the formula indicated a rise in fares of 0.36%; it was decided that this small amount did not warrant a change in fares, but that the figure would be considered as part of the 2015 calculations. This year the outcome of the formula indicated a rise of 1.54% overall. This was approved by the Environment Department Board and the result was communicated to the Taxi Owners Federation. The Federation responded that the result was acceptable and, consequently, the Gazette notice was issued.
Notwithstanding the recommendation of the Taxi Owners Federation, it is entirely at the discretion of each individual company or private licence holder as to whether or not they wish to change their taximeter(s) to reflect this increase.
When taxi meters are adjusted (), there may be a consequent change in any or all of the following variables:
- The first drop and standing charge;
- The additional unit distance or fraction;
- Waiting time per hour;
- Waiting time per charge unit;
Additionally, there are six different tariffs (each depending upon the number of passengers carried in the vehicle, the time of day or whether or not a fare is collected on a public holiday), making twenty four variables overall.
Because of the wide number of variables
it is not possible to give precise answers to questions on impacts per fare however as the percentage increase is small the majority of journeys are unlikely to experience significant fare increases.
By the terms of Part 1, Paragraph 1 of The Public Transport Ordinance, 1986, the Environment Department is required to issue a notice in La Gazette Officielle of any proposed changes in taxi fares allowing members of the public and interested parties fourteen days to put forward their views on the matter.
Turning to the matter of the Transport Strategy and the issuing of taxi plates the Department has committed to carrying out a review of taxi provision and the mechanisms for regulation. Pending that review there is currently no intention to issue further plates other than those additional plates already issued to improve the availability of Accessible Taxis for disabled people.
Contact Information:
Karl Guille, Traffic and Transport Services Manager
Environment Department
Tel: 2434000
