Agenda item

The Principal Licensing Officer, Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS), presented the report to Members. The purpose of the report was to consider an increase in the hackney carriage table of fares, as set out in Appendix 3 to the report.

Officers detailed that in considering the annual review of the hackney carriage tables of fares, the Redditch Taxi Association (RTA) were initially contacted in February 2026 to ask whether the RTA would be seeking to vary the tables of fares for the next 12-month period. At that time, the RTA confirmed that no change to the fares was required.

The views of the Redditch Taxi Association in February 2026 were reported back to the Licensing Committee on 9^th March 2026. The Committee accepted those views, but in light of the conflict in the middle east causing instability in the economy and fluctuating fuel prices, requested that the matter remain under review.

The Redditch Taxi Association (RTA) were contacted again on 5^th May 2026. The RTA had now proposed an increase to the ‘hiring charge’ on all three tariffs by £0.20p, citing concerns with the petrol and diesel prices remaining high since early March, the cost of living increases, and trade competition from licensed vehicles operating within the Redditch area but licensed by other licensing authorities.

There was no proposal to change the existing tariff for any distance travelled otherwise known as the “mileage” charge rate.

Making the requested amendments would increase the cost of a 2-mile journey in a Hackney Carriage licensed by the Council on tariff one (the standard unit under which comparisons are made) from £6.65 to £6.85. which was a 3.0% increase.

Legislation dictated that any increase in fares must be preceded by publishing a public notice which would be in a local newspaper, objections would be invited for 14 days from the date of this publication. Should none be received, the new fares would come into force on 6^th July 2026. Should objections be received these would be considered by the Licensing Committee.

Members expressed the view that the proposed increase to the ‘hiring charge’ represented a fair proposal given the economic conditions and fuel prices. A question was asked regarding the frequency of the requests by Redditch Taxi Association (RTA) to vary the tables of fares. Officers responded that an increase to the ‘hiring charge’ element of the tables of fares was also requested last year but this followed a number of previous years when no changes were requested or made to the hackney carriage tables of fares.

The resolutions as printed in the report were moved by Councillor Matt Dormer and seconded by Councillor Sharon Harvey.

On being put to the vote it was

RESOLVED that

1)    The proposed table of taxi fares as set out in Appendix 3 be advertised as a public notice and objections from the public invited in accordance with the requirements of section 65, Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1976.

2)    If no objections are received from the public within 14 days of publication of the notice that the proposed tariff will come into effect on 6^th July 2026.

3)    If objections are received in the stated time, that the matter will be considered further at the next meeting of the Licensing Committee, and a decision made as to whether the variations to the table of fares should be made.