The Riddle of Burnley's Black Cabs. Can You Help Solve it?

With the residents of Burnley still scratching their heads, and trying to solve the "Queensgate Riddle", Burnley Bravepages has uncovered another local absurdity which is causing public confusion.

To keep apace with inflation, the price of goods and services must rise. Each year our council tax increases, social housing rents rise, the cost of local services go up and the goods in the shops cost more. Nothing goes down.

Burnley Council is valiantly battling to balance its books, and every penny it can raise helps provide those essentials services for the town's needy. There has to be rises across the board for the council to bring in as much revenue as possible.

But, apparently, not quite across the board!

Incredible as it may seem, Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licence fees for 2002/03 have been slashed by a massive 13%. The taxi licensing fee for vehicles less than 3 years old has been reduced by £29 per year to £197 and for vehicles over 3 years old by £36 a year to £239.

Labour councillor for Bank Hall, Barry Gutteridge, prosposed the reduction and he was seconded by Philip Walsh, Labour councillor for Cliviger. They have also changed the council's constitution to provide for,

"the setting of fees for Hackney Carriages or Private Hire vehicles to be delegated to the Licensing committee."

Local economist, Richard Quirke, was totally baffled by the Council's actions.

"This doesn't make financial sense. The fee should be raised by between 2 to 3% to keep abreast of inflation. It is a total mystery why the council should lower Black Cab fees rather than raising them."

So just like the "Queensgate Riddle", we now have "The Riddle of Burnley's Black Cabs".

Can anyone tell us why Burnley Council has lowered the taxi licencing fee for 2002/03?

Can anyone tell us why two Labour Councillors should propose such a reduction?

Can you solve "The Riddle of Burnley's Black Cabs"?





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