Taxi Driver Online

This is pretty unremarkable in terms of the numbers, except for the fact it's the first possible rise in nine years

But which maybe suggests fees too high nine years ago? Or that the trade's being getting a free ride in the years since then?

But spot the odd figure out - someone's definitely been getting a bargain


Merthyr Tydfil’s taxi licensing fees could go up under new plans

https://herald.wales/south-wales/merthy ... new-plans/

CHARGES for taxi licenses in one Welsh county could be increasing for the first time in nine years.

A review of fees and charges for Hackney Carriage and private hire taxis has been done in Merthyr Tydfil.

The main fees considered for review were vehicle licences, the three year drivers’ licence and the five year operator licence which in comparison with neighbouring Welsh authorities has Merthyr Tydfil toward the lower end of the scale.

The proposals are that new driver (three year licence) fees increase from £272 to £312, driver renewal (three year licence) fees increase from £230 to £290.

Vehicle fees go up from £154 to £217 and private hire operator fees (five year licence) increase from £135 to £394.

The last review of licence fees was done in 2017 and since 2017 the council has not increased fees and has looked to support the licensed trade through challenges such as recovery from the Covid pandemic and the volatility in the fuel market.

The review of current fees was carried out to cover reasonable costs of administration, enforcement and compliance based on full cost recovery.

There will be a full consultation and if no objection is received to the proposed fees, then the licence fee uplift for 2026-2027 financial year will come into force on May 1, 2026.

Based on current licences and projections there would be an increase in total income of £13,545 per year relating to vehicle licences, an increase in £14,520 total income over a three-year period relating to driver licences and an increase of income of £7,770 over five years relating to private hire operator licences.

The proposals will be considered by full council on Wednesday, March 4.

Go down to the Licensing section on this page, then scroll down the fees, and the PH operator fees here are obviously wrongly presented here under PH vehicles:

https://www.merthyr.gov.uk/resident/fees-and-charges/

But can't see anything else that might be the operator fees, and it says it covers five years, so private hire operator fees it must be.

(Slight discrepancy because the press article above says it's £135 for five years, while the official list says it's £115, but hey ho )