A PROPOSED rise in taxi driver and vehicle fees to cover the costs of licensing the service in Newport is to go out to consultation.

But the decision by Newport council licensing committee wasn’t unanimous and one councillor called a report by council officers that proposed the rises “dictatorial”.

However, no member of the taxi trade came to listen to the decision.

Cllr Majid Rahman, of Victoria ward, said: “If you put this out to consultation to the trade they are going to batter us.”

He later added: “I think this report is aggressive and dictatorial. We are telling the taxi drivers this is what we should do because we are losing money.”

“With respect that’s a poor choice of words,” committee chairman Cllr Allan Morris replied.

Cllr Sally Mlewa, of Rogerstone, added: “If we carry on subsiding, what are we going to say to the lady who says ‘I have waited three years for a shower’?”

Cllr Rahman’s comments came after members voted seven to two for the proposals to go out to consultation, with Cllr Rahman and Cllr Chris Evans objecting.

Helen Wilkie, public protection manager at the council, said a long time ago the council decided to run the taxi licensing service at a loss, which steadily increased to a point that was unsustainable. In 2011/12, following cost-saving measures, the deficit between income and spending was cut from £83,000 the year before to £65,000. An estimate suggests the proposal would see that fall to £394.

The committee heard officers had looked at public safety in balancing the issue.

The proposals introduce a rise in the cost of drivers’ badges, plus new fees for vehicles more than 12 years old, with cars older than 12 years said to need to be inspected more frequently.

A Newport taxi driver could face paying £258 a year to license a car more than three years old, while drivers of cars more than 12 years old could face vehicle licence fees of £458 a year.

Cars less than three years old would cost £129 per year.

The report claims some of the fees would still be lower than those of neighbouring authorities. A meeting with the trade on the rises, which could be in place by October, is planned.

‘Doing nothing not an option’

DOING nothing is not an option with the current economic climate, according to the chairman of the licensing committee.

Allan Morris said after the meeting: “Hopefully we will have a full and frank discussion that come out with a solution that suits everyone.”

Cliff Suller, councillor for Caerleon, said: “We’re going to listen to them and genuinely listen to them.”

Cllr Chris Evans, of Rogerstone ward, said he objected as he wanted to see discounts offered for “greener” cars, such as hybrids and electric vehicles, and added that entrepreneurship should be encouraged.

Cllr Rahman added that he didn’t think the report highlighted the commitment the council had in supporting hard working taxi drivers on low incomes.