The Head of the Licensing Partnership presented the report which set out the options to either increase fees by 5% for Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Fees and Charges 2023/24 or keep them unchanged. The report recommended that fees remain unchanged from the previous year.

Fees were substantially reviewed the previous year and instead of a simple inflationary increase, they were completely re-worked and the increases to fees were largely more than inflation in several areas. They were based around assumptions of the number of applications received. Monitoring of income and expenditure had been carried out since the newer fees had come into effect in April 2022, but it was too soon to establish whether the fees introduced would deliver the desired outcome. This would likely fluctuate and change during the remainder of the financial year.

It was explained that the fees could be reviewed later in the financial year following the pending salary award and other expenses and it was highlighted that the number of licensed drivers had not reached the numbers seen before the pandemic. The Driver’s licences were renewed every 3 years and Members were made aware that this could be changed, although the Licensing Team advised against this at the time.

The Head of the Licensing Partnership confirmed that if Members ultimately decided, following an initial consultation, to increase the Fees by an alternative value less than 5% then this could be done without needing to go back out to a further consultation.

Members discussed the report and considered the increase to fees. It was considered that 5% was less than inflation and fuel prices were falling so the increase should be considered. Some Members considered it might be better to stagger an increase to fees rather than wait until the end of the financial year. Other Members raised concern over the large increases in the previous year and the impact on Drivers’ costs.

Members were advised that the fee rates were about remaining cost-neutral and to ensure the service remained self-financing. It was difficult to forecast costs and the number of driver applications but more accurate details would be known by the end of the financial year. Members suggested that the outlook would be clearer in January and it would be beneficial for the Committee to review this at the next meeting should Members decide to keep the fees unchanged.

Resolved: That

a)    the current fees, as set out below remained unchanged; and

b)   an update report be brought back to the next meeting of the Committee in January 2023.

Dual Driver Licence

Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licence

Private Hire Operator Licence

Private Hire Driver Licence

Private Hire Vehicle Licence

Additional Costs

(*As amended at the meeting on 11 January 2023)