Sheffield City Council's waste and street scene committee is proposing a hike in taxi licence fees for the first time since 2016.
The move comes after it was revealed the council spends an average of £146,000 more a year on taxi licensing services than it receives in fees.
Members were told: “Licence fees were last reviewed in 2016 and despite an increase in service costs during this period, additional costs have not been passed on to licensees and applicants.”
In summary:
The driver licence options will be reduced to one or three years, instead of one, two or three years.
Private hire operator licences will be reduced to one or five years, instead of one, two, three, four or five years.
The current bandings for private hire operators of 0-50 and 51+ vehicles will be replaced with 1-50, 51-100, 101-250 and 251+ vehicles.
Among the proposed fee changes were the increase in getting a new driving licence for a year (from £169 to £223), fees of renewal for drivers’ licences (one year – from £97 to £223, three years – from £217 to £268).
Also, hackney carriage and private hire vehicle licences (renewal) would be increased, as well as all of the operators’ costs.
Taxi representatives slammed the proposals, calling the council's licensing service a "failure" and criticising a lack of detail on what drivers would get in return for the higher fees.
Former councillor Ibrar Hussain, told members “this is a failed licensing service, you have failed taxi drivers in Sheffield”.
He criticised the council for not answering the telephone, the IT system being of poor quality, and enforcement being “zilch”.
Despite concerns, the committee voted to send the proposals to public consultation, meaning residents will have a say before any changes are implemented.
The new fees could come into effect as early as October 1st, 2024.
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