Just recently it appears that a number of drivers have received letters through their mail boxes from the licensing enforcement team with regards to what they have been monitoring on the towns CCTV system, ie the drivers not being parked properly on the ranks and apparently not moving up the rank they seem to be viewing this as an offence although no mention of further action has been mentioned in these letters, I have to raise my concerns as a owner driver myself I feel that the towns CCTV system is not doing the job that it was put in place for, because if it is to be used for monitoring the drivers and not what’s going on around the town where does this constitute to crime prevention? Surely this is a misuse of valuable resources, the drivers are being picked upon yet again as an easy target, strange as it seems only Rhyl appears to be monitored like this, what about the other towns of the county where there is less or no ranks available to the trade, and on another note how many members of the public actually receive letters for their behaviour cigarette ends, pizza boxes, chip cartons and cans thrown about the town, they don’t know these people but they do know the drivers of the Taxis, how strange is that? And have they got any legal right to use the CCTV system for parking offences I seem to recall they didn’t allow it in London a few years back when they planned to use CCTV for parking offences has the law been changed since then does anyone know? This really needs to be addressed legally.

Hackney Carriage Fares and Charges

Denbighshire County Council has received two separate requests from the taxi trade for a change in the current table of fares and charges, bearing in mind that the last increase we had was in 2010 most operators should have received a letter from licensing stating the proposals, if you haven’t then here’s the request’s DCC have received

Proposal 1

Easter Sunday should be charged at Tariff 2 (see proposal 3) also

Reason for this request is that Easter Sunday is a bank holiday

Proposal 2

the current soiling charge of £40.00 be increased to £100.00

no reason for this particular request has been submitted

Proposal 3

The introduction of a tariff 3 for Christmas Eve/Day, Boxing Day, New Years Eve/Day and Easter Sunday

reason being stated as to compensate drivers for working on these days when members of the public are under the influence of excessive alcohol. (drink)

Proposal 4

A minimum of 20p to be added to the start price (flag) of all tariffs

Reason to compensate for the increase in the cost of fuel given that the last fare increase was in 2010 when the cost of a litre of diesel was around 98p per litre and it is now currently around £1.459 per litre.

officers are working towards submitting a report to the next licensing committee on the 27th June 2012 in order for a report to be to prepared in readiness for the licensing committee your comments on the above proposals should be submitted in good time before the 28th of May 2012 this can be done via snail mail to

Licensing Services

Russell house, Churton Road

Rhyl, Denbighshire, LL18 3DP

or email licensing@denbighshire.gov.uk

Officers will presume progression to the above proposals if no objections have been received by the 28th of May