A borough councillor said he appreciated that costs need to be recovered, but he didn’t want to vote for a “huge price increase” for Hackney carriage and private hire vehicle licences.
But another councillor said it was “morally wrong” for the council taxpayer to have to pay for the shortfall.
Last week, the General Licensing Committee (Thursday, 12 December) heard that the last time that driver and vehicle licence fees were subject to any increase was in 2019 when increases of 3.3 per cent and 2 per cent respectively were applied.
Operators’ licence fees were also increased in 2021, although “only by” 1 per cent.
The committee was told the council cannot profit from those fees and must reconcile any surplus or deficit over a three-year period.
The proposed increases ranged from 0.79 per cent to 21.65 per cent.
Councillor Leigh Coombs (Lib Dems, Shortstown) said: “I don’t want to vote for this price increase if I’m honest.
“I appreciate that we probably have to because we have to recover the costs.
“But, I don’t want our taxi fleet and operators and drivers suffering huge increases in costs that they are going to have to pass onto our residents. I think our residents are burdened enough.”
Councillor Lucy Bywater (Green, Castle and Newnham) said she echoed the comments made by councillor Coombs.
“I think we’re all reluctant and we were four years ago,” she said.
“And now we’re sort of playing catch up, unfortunately. So, it seems like a big leap to people and it will be really uncomfortable.
“I wouldn’t like it if I was the driver. But the alternative is the council taxpayer makes up the shortfall for the administration.
“And I think that would actually be morally wrong for the council taxpayer to have to pay for this service.”
The committee agreed to approve the increases in fees and charges and that they will take effect from March 2025. Also, that the General Licensing Sub Committee is authorised to consider and determine any objections to the proposed increase in fees.
by John Guinn
Local Democracy Reporter
