Upfront fee for new driver applicants
Item raised by the Chair.
To discuss the proposed introduction of an upfront application fee for new driver applications only. The Council can offer up to 27 appointments per day for new applicants - the current attendance rate for these appointments is in the region of 75%.
The committee report that went to the Licensing & Regulatory Committee on 7th January considered the introduction of an upfront fee for new driver applications but deferred any decision until the meeting to be held on Monday 18 March 2019.
The cost of a 3-year driver licence for 2019/20 will be £73.
Trade representatives are therefore asked for their views on the following;
a. Do they support the introduction of an upfront fee which will be offset against the total cost of a new licence? (new applicants only)
b. The suggested fee is around £25 - £30. Again, trade representative’s views are welcomed on the suggested level of the upfront fee.
The views from the trade will be incorporated into a report to be considered by the committee on the 18th March 2019.
Note - suggested fees for knowledge tests have been suspended until further notice.
Minutes:
MT – Opened discussion on upfront fees for new driver applicants.
PMcL – Stated that there should be some cost involved for everyone who uses the Council’s service. Whether they complete the licensing process or not. The Licensing Service must be run as efficiently as possible. It should be seen a business offering a service. It should not be for free. An administration fee if you would like to call it. The Service should not be out of pocket to timewasters, or people who do not finish the process. It cannot be run at a lost.
TJ – Asked is there any reason why we do not charge a fee? And is there a disadvantage to charging a fee?
JJ – Stated that the fee should be refundable on completion of licence. It should be charged at start of the application process and come off the final bill at the end.
It was agreed by all for to an upfront cost. To prevent time wasters and no shows for knowledge tests.
MT – Stated £50 maybe too much. Especially for one year licences. He will confirm final details once an amount has been agreed and share with the Group (fee was set at £25 by committee).