Purpose

To consider whether to make any variation to
the current hackney carriage and private hire licence fees for
2026/27. If changes are proposed, to approve the publication of the
relevant statutory notices.

Decision

To approve the proposed variation to hackney
carriage and private hire licence fees, as detailed in Appendix A
of the report, and to approve the publication of the relevant
statutory notices.

Reasons for the decision

The Council is expected to conduct regular
reviews of licence fees to ensure that, where statutory powers
exist, the cost of the hackney carriage and private hire licensing
regime is recovered from applicants and licence holders.

Alternative options considered

The Council may consider retaining the
existing licence fees for a third successive year. However, any
failure to recover costs permitted by statute would require an
unnecessary subsidisation of the hackney carriage and private hire
licensing regime at the expense of the Council’s
taxpayers.