Barnsley Council considers 10 per cent increase in taxi and private hire licensing feeshttps://www.thestar.co.uk/news/politics ... es-5502542Taxi and private hire drivers in Barnsley could face a 10 per cent hike in licensing fees under proposals set to be considered by councillors next week.
A report going before the licensing regulatory board on February 11 recommends increases to licence fees for hackney carriage and private hire drivers, vehicles and operators, following a review of the council’s licensing costs.
If approved, the cost of a one-year driver licence would rise from £150 to £165, while a three-year licence would increase from £240 to £264. Fees for vehicle licences would increase from £180 to £198, and operator licences would also rise depending on their length.
Council officers say the changes are needed to make sure licence fees accurately reflect the cost of running the licensing service, including processing applications, carrying out checks and inspections, and issuing licences.
The report says the licensing team has increased the number of compliance checks in recent years, to ensure that public safety remains a priority. Officers have also carried out detailed time monitoring to calculate how long each part of the licensing process takes, which has been used to inform the proposed fees.
Before any changes take effect, the council is required to carry out a 28-day public consultation.
If no objections are received, the new fees would come into force on 13 March 2026. If objections are raised, councillors will be required to consider them before deciding whether to approve, amend or withdraw the proposals.
Officers say licence fees will be reviewed again in 12 months’ time, based on continued monitoring of the servic
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