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Taxi driver licences to be renewed less often as law changes

Posted on - 8th April, 2015 - 12:00pm | Author - | Posted in - Business, Preston Council, Preston News
Taxis make their way down Fishergate Pic: Tony Worrall

Taxis make their way down Fishergate Pic: Tony Worrall

Changes to how long taxi licences are issued for will cost Preston City Council at least £25,000 a year.

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Taxi drivers in the city are set to see their costs of applying of licences reduced due to new laws.

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The Department for Transport has changed the duration a licence is valid for, giving Hackney cabs a three year licence and private hire operators a five year licence. This reduces how often taxi drivers and firms need to re-apply for a licence.

Currently a hackey carriage licence is issued for a year and a private hire licence for three years.

The current fees for a private hire firm with 75+ vehicles in its fleet is £365 per licence, so two years extra on a licence represents a significant saving.

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Figures tabled to the city council’s taxi sub-committee predict the changes will cost £25,000 this year and a loss of income of £31,000 per year over the next four years.

Councillors are also being asked to increase two of the fees charged to taxi drivers.

A driver application is due to become £105, up £15, and a knowledge test would be £32.50, an increase of £12.50.

The city council says it has consulted hackney carriage and licensed private hire operators on the proposals but not received any response.

Officers are recommending councillors support the changes saying: “The proposals support the council’s corporate priority in delivery well run, value for money services for the trade who in turn should provide a valued transport service to the general public.”

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The taxi sub committee meets at the Town Hall from 10am on Thursday. You can read the full council report on the council website.

Do you drive a taxi? What do you think of the changes? Let us know in the comments below

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