WHITBY taxi drivers face a 30% hike in their annual licence fees to £245 a year – and other fees are also set to jump.
The figures are contained in a document drawn up by Andy Skelton, Scarborough Council’s head of environmental services. They show proposals have been drawn up to raise the current annual licence fee from £185 to £245.

Mr Skelton points out in a report that a survey has to be carried out this year and every three years to see if there is any “unmet demand” for taxi services.

The move comes about because of new government guidance which questions whether councils should be allowed to restrict the number of licences they dish out.

At present Scarborough Council licences 97 taxis and earlier this year agreed to carry out the survey.

But Mr Skelton says the survey alone means an increase of £51.50 on each licence and on top of that a 3.5% increase is necessary to meet budgetary targets.

The report will go before the council’s licensing committee on Monday.

Other proposals include a hike up from £185 to £192 for a private hire vehicle licence and from £150 to £156 for a dual drivers’ licence and badge.

Other costs such as obtaining a vehicle plate will stay at £9 while the knowledge test will also stay at £20.

http://www.whitbygazette.co.uk/news/Taxi-licences-hike.4179967.jp