The cost of driving a taxi in Liverpool will increase from tomorrow for the first time in almost 15 years.
Applications for taxi and private-hire badges submitted to Liverpool City Council will increase from £60 to £75 for a one-year badge, and from £150 to £180 for a three-year badge.
A spokesperson for the council confirmed that applications submitted before July 1 would be processed at the old fees, which have been in place since 2011.
Review
The Liverpool Echo reports that the move is part of a wider review of the trade in the city, with the council also clamping down on adverts on the side of vehicles. It said that while commercial advertising will be permitted, conditions will be adopted to prohibit any promotion of e-cigarettes and gambling. A report to the committee said: “Gambling can be detrimental to health and the promotion of the product may encourage gambling/betting.”
The council’s general purposes licensing committee agreed that the advertising guidelines applicable to licensed Hackney Carriages and private-hire vehicles be amended immediately, including a ban on gambling and electronic cigarettes.
Out-of-town licensing
The committee heard that the number of Hackney Carriage drivers had fallen in the past four years by 131, but the number of private-hire drivers has increased by 1,063. Of this figure, the committee heard that almost 500 of these badges were granted by Wolverhampton City Council to drivers operating in Liverpool.
As part of the review, Liverpool City Council is looking at what changes it can make to secure licensing in the local area. The Echo reports that members were told the main reason drivers register in Wolverhampton instead of the region they operate in is because it’s regarded as an “easier, quicker, and cheaper licensing regime”.
Although the committee felt increasing the fees for badges was necessary, it believed the amount was small and wouldn’t impact drivers and operators.
Calculations
The Echo reports that the committee was told a full calculation exercise was conducted which detailed the proportion of time that officers dealt with all driver applications, vehicles and operators. The report added: “It is considered that the proposed increase in fees will have very little impact on licence holders and customers.
“The proposed increase is minimal, the figures are comparable with core cities so it is highly unlikely that many private-hire drivers and licence holders will be motivated to licence themselves elsewhere.”
Consultation
A council spokesperson confirmed that a review of fees for vehicles and operators is currently out for consultation.
They added: “The consultation period ends on July 3. If no objections are received, they will go live Monday, July 7.
“Again, any application submitted before July 7 will be charged at the old fee of £170 and £175 for new plates. Any applications from July 7 will pay the new fee of £180 and for new plates £185. For operators, it will change from £750 to £800.”
With prices increasing all the time, Liverpool has done well to keep badge fees at the same level for 14 years as drivers struggled with rising fuel prices, more expensive repair bills and higher taxi insurance premiums. And as the council looks to improve the service it offers, the increases aren’t particularly steep that they would cause hardship for drivers and steer them towards another licensing authority.
