Taxi and private hire licensing fees consultation
Feedback updated 5 Sep 2023
We asked
We asked for views on a proposal to increase fees for taxi and private hire licensing services.
The consultation ran from 15 February to 15 March 2023.
You said
We received 210 responses to the consultation:
- 199 to the online survey
- 10 email responses
- 1 written response
Most respondents (67%) were members of the taxi and private hire trade or trade representatives.
88% of respondents objected to the proposed fees. Main reasons:
- cost of living impact / affordability
- increase is too high (higher than inflation)
- fee is already too expensive
- not busy enough / not making enough money
- consumer will be impacted (increased fares, fewer taxis)
53% of respondents said it was not acceptable for the tax-payer to cover the cost of the licensing service. Main reasons:
- council needs to make cost savings / efficiencies
- tax-payers should not cover the cost
- do not accept the increase is needed (costs are already covered)
- cost of living crisis
- tax-payers will indirectly cover the cost
More information about the taxi and private hire licensing fees consultation responses (PDF 1.99MB).
We did
At its meeting on 11 April 2023, Buckinghamshire Council approved the proposed Taxi and private hire licensing fees – to take effect on 24 April 2023.
We are required by law to provide the taxi and private hire licensing service. Unless costs are subsidised by the taxpayer, the service should be cost neutral and operate at no cost to the taxpayer.
Overview
We want your views on our proposal to increase fees for taxi and private hire licensing services.
Taxis and private hire vehicles provide a valuable transport service to residents and communities in Buckinghamshire.
Public safety is the council’s priority when making decisions on taxi and private hire licences. Fees and charges paid to the council for taxi and private hire licensing should cover the costs of this work.
Current licensing fees and policy
The current licensing fees were set in July 2021.
There were several uncertainties at the time the fees and charges were set.
A new Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Policy came into effect in September 2021.
Why are we proposing the change?
We committed to doing a full review of the taxi licensing budget and fees in September 2022. This review has been carried out. It shows that we are not fully covering the costs of delivering the Taxi Licensing service.
Government guidance is that taxi and private hire licensing should not operate at a cost to the wider taxpayer. Fees must be set at a level which ensures that we do not make a profit. Any deficit or surplus should be considered when fees are reviewed.
We have reduced service costs and overheads where possible. We are proposing that fees for taxi and private hire licensing should increase. This is to operate without cost to the wider taxpayer.
Proposed fees and charges
More Information
Driver licences are usually granted for 3 years but may be granted for a shorter duration in certain circumstances. Application costs include safeguarding and disability awareness training.
Applicants are required to pay suppliers directly for required tests and documents including cabology, enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and updater service, knowledge tests, English language tests and medicals.
- New private hire driver licence - £360.00
- New hackney carriage driver licence - £360.00
- New dual private hire/hackney carriage driver licence - £360.00
- Renewal driver licence (all types) - £360.00
- Extension of licence (visa) - £77.00
- Replacement identity badge - £32.00
- Replacement paperwork - £17.00
The total fee charged for the variation of a licence will depend on the options chosen from the list of fees above and can be made up of one or more of these fees.
More Information
Vehicle licences only run for 1 year and the vehicle must pass a mechanical inspection before the licence is issued. Applicants are required to pay suppliers directly for required tests including vehicle inspections.
- New private hire vehicle licence - £275.00
- Renewal private hire vehicle licence - £239.00
- Vehicle transfer (from one owner to another owner) - £96.00
- Insurance vehicle/change of vehicle - £77.00
- Replacement plate, (holder, bracket, secure fixings) - £41.00 *
- Replacement door stickers - £21.00 *
- Replacement internal licence - £18.00*
- Replacement paperwork - £21.00
The total fee charged for the variation of a licence will depend on the options chosen from the list of fees above and can be made up of one or more of these fees.
* Individual livery items can be ordered if required
More Information
Vehicle licences only run for 1 year and the vehicle must pass a mechanical inspection before the licence is issued. Applicants are required to pay suppliers directly for required tests including vehicle inspections
- New hackney carriage vehicle licence - £282.00
- Renewal hackney carriage vehicle licence - £243.00
- Vehicle transfer (from one owner to another owner) - £96.00
- Insurance vehicle/change of vehicle - £77.00
- Replacement plate, (holder, bracket, secure fixings) - £41.00*
- Replacement internal licence - £18.00*
- Replacement paperwork - £21.00
The total fee charged for the variation of a licence will depend on the options chosen from the list of fees above and can be made up of one or more of these fees.
* Individual livery items can be ordered if required
More Information
Vehicle licences only run for 1 year and the vehicle must pass a mechanical inspection before the licence is issued. Applicants are required to pay suppliers directly for required tests including vehicle inspections.
- New executive vehicle licence - £264.00
- Renewal executive vehicle licence - £228.00
- Vehicle transfer (from one owner to another owner) - £96.00
- Insurance vehicle/change of vehicle - £77.00
- Replacement internal licence - £18.00*
- Replacement paperwork - £21.00
The total fee charged for the variation of a licence will depend on the options chosen from the list of fees above and can be made up of one or more of these fees.
* Individual livery items can be ordered as required
More Information
If you run a private hire firm, you need an operator licence. Operator licences are usually granted for 5 years. In exceptional circumstances the Council may grant a 1 year operator licence at its discretion, but this will not normally be the case.
5 year licence
- Owner operator licence (1 vehicle) - £570.00
- Operator licence (under 10 vehicles) - £1118.00
- Operator licence (under 50 vehicles) - £1854.00
- Operator licence (more than 50 vehicles) - £2914.00
1 year licence
- Owner operator licence (1 vehicle) - £456.00
- Operator licence (under 10 vehicles) - £606.00
- Operator licence (under 50 vehicles) - £682.00
- Operator licence (more than 50 vehicles) - £758.00
Operators who increase the number of vehicles during the course of a licence and exceed their existing fee bracket level will be required to pay the difference between the two fee brackets for the remainder of the existing licence period.
- Variation of licence - £110.00
- Replacement licence - £36.00
- Replacement paperwork - £21.00
The total fee charged for the variation of a licence will depend on the options chosen from the list of fees above and can be made up of one or more of these fees.
We want to hear from the licensed taxi and private hire trade on our proposal. We also want to hear from businesses, residents, and non-residents of Buckinghamshire.
Related documents
Please have a look at the following documents:
- Proposed fees and charges (PDF 0.22MB)
- Comparison of current and proposed fees, and proposed fees and average fees charged by neighbouring authorities (PDF 0.15MB)
How to have your say
You can tell us your views by completing the online survey using the link at the end of the page.
If you have any questions, please email us at taxilicensing@buckinghamshire.gov.uk.
Please tell us your views by midnight on 15 March 2023.
What happens next
All responses will be provided to the Licensing Committee for consideration. The Licensing Committee will then decide on the final fees and charges that will be set. Any changes to fees and charges will come into effect on or before 15 May 2023.
Privacy
We will use the information you provide here only for this activity. We will store the information securely in line with data protection laws and will not share or publish any personal details. For more information about data and privacy, please see our Privacy Policy.
If you have questions about data and privacy, please email us on dataprotection@buckinghamshire.gov.uk. Or write to our Data Protection Officer at Buckinghamshire Council, The Gateway, Gatehouse Road, Aylesbury, HP19 8FF.
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