SHEFFIELD TAXI DRIVERS FACE FEES AND CHARGES INCREASES

Taxi drivers in Sheffield are set to face increased licence fees and charges for the first time since 2016.

The fees increase which was approved by the city council's waste and street scene policy committee will take effect from February 2025.

A report published ahead of the meeting explained that the proposed increase was due to “increased costs to the service”.

In July, the same committee was told that over the past three years, the income from taxi licence fees has averaged £800,000 with an average expenditure of £946,000, resulting in an average overspend of £146,000.

A presenting officer added that for the previous financial year, ending March 31, the overall costs associated with the service were £1,002,540, with an income of £829,977, resulting in a deficit of £172,564.

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.

A survey found that “a large proportion of respondents expressed concern about the financial impact of the proposals on individuals and businesses, especially given the current cost-of-living crisis”.

At the end of the meeting, the increased taxi and private hire licence fees and charges for 2024-25, was approved as well as an option for a smaller private hire operator banding (1-10), a two-year driver licence and a two-, three-, and four-year private hire operator licence, be approved.

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