Taxi Driver Online

Not much to see here, which is probably just as well, because when it starts getting into the detail it's more or less meaningless and misleading, and not difficult to spot for those who know the basic structure of trade licensing fees.

But one of these pieces that 99.9% of Bournemouth Echo readers will think is conveying accurate information, but which actually isn't, but no one will really notice anyway.


Taxi licensing fees proposed rise for first time since 2017

https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/ ... ince-2017/

A RISE in taxi and private hire licensing fees has been proposed in the New Forest area for the first time since 2017.

New Forest District Council is proposing a rise in taxi and private hire licensing fees to address the rising costs of consumables.

Not raised since April 2017, the council kept licencing fees steady after the pandemic due to a need to support a trade in recovery.

The council will discuss the proposal on January 5, which could be in place as soon as April 1, 2024.

The proposed cost changes includes a rise in costs to new or a renewal of taxi and private hire for one year, three year, and five year licences.

One year has increased from £142 to £167, three years from £142 to £162, and five years from £509 to £520.

Changes to vehicle licence plate fees haves also changed and can be found on the New Forest District Council committee agenda.

Under law, the proposal must be subject to a 28 day consultation, following an advertisement.

Any objections must be considered by the General Purposes and Licencing Committee on March 8, 2024, prior to implementation on April 1.

The council has also announced an increase to animal welfare, caravan sites, and skin piercing licensing fees.

Pet shops will see an increase for one, two or three year licences from £301 to £338, while applications for a new caravan site single pitch has increase from £505 to £565.

In recovery? Makes it sound like the trade is some sort of addict...

Or maybe it's a pun about the council recovering its costs, or whatever


Which licences? Taxis, PH, or both, and are the figures for badges or plates, or new or renewal?

Of course, that one of the fees is for 'five years' suggests that the figures are for PH operator's licences, thus they're nothing to do with 'taxis'.


Oh, well, at least this next paragraph seems to imply that the actual figures quoted aren't about vehicle fees. But does this imply that badge fees aren't changing?

No doubt the nuts and bolts of the changes can be found on the council's website, but what's the point of including figures in a press article if it's not at all clear what they apply to?

I suspect the reason the council hasn't increased fees for a while is the number of drivers that license there and work elsewhere.

I'm told more than 300.

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IDFIMH