Some slightly confusing stuff here, including the strapline - 'fees' normally refers to the monies charged to the trade for badges and plates etc
Council with highest taxi fares in Wales agrees 2027 fares freeze
https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north- ... s-34622562
Denbighshire County Council will keep fees unchanged next year
Denbighshire County Council’s licensing committee agreed not to increase public taxi fares for 2027 at a meeting yesterday (Tuesday). Lead licensing officer Nicky Jones told councillors that Denbighshire County Council currently had the highest taxi rates in Wales, ahead of second placed Swansea, with fares also above the average in England.
When discussing the Hackney Carriage Table of Fares for 2027, Ms Jones told the committee that other North Wales authorities charged “a lot less than ours”.
The current fares were introduced in October 2025 after councillors backed increases to Tariff 1 – the standard rate – from £2.50 per mile to £3.
The move also saw Tariff 3 – a rate typically used in higher demand periods – increase from £3.75 per mile to £4.50.
A consultation asked the licensed trade whether the current fare structure should remain in place for 2027 or whether there should be an inflation-based increase.
Of 12 responses received, seven supported keeping the existing fares, one backed an inflation-based increase, and four suggested alternative approaches.
These included a yearly increase slightly above inflation, using the Guildford Fare Model to calculate fares based on costs, reducing the meter to six-tenths of a mile rather than one-tenth of a mile, and introducing a booking fee.
But officers said the relatively low response meant there was limited evidence to support future fare changes, with the majority of respondents supporting retaining the current structure.
Cllr Merfyn Parry said: “I think I’d like to keep the present fares unchanged for 2027. The October 2025 increase was quite substantial.”
Lead licensing officer Nicky Jones said the council had to take into account that Denbighshire currently had the highest rates in Wales, ahead of second placed Swansea. But Cllr Ellie Chard added: “We have got the best taxis around, haven’t we?
“I do know we have got better controls of our cars and the age, etc., so I just thought I’d mention that because I know it is the dearest, but then again, we are getting good cabs to be used.”
Councillors were asked to note the report, as well as the consultation work since the implementation of the table of fares in 2025, and support retaining the current tariff rates for 2027.
A further review will be carried out for 2027 before the rates are set for 2028.
Cllr Andrea Tomlin proposed councillors went with the recommendation, this was seconded by Cllr Merfyn Parry, and the committee backed the report.
