Taxi Driver Online

Council set to impose 50% license fee hike on taxi drivers in Bedford borough




TAXI drivers will be hit with a 50 per cent increase in their license fee.

Members of the Bedford Hackney Carriage Drivers Association in Bedford have been informed that the council will hike their annual license fee from £300 to £450.

The unusually large raise has been introduced because of a costly survey that was undertaken last year which aimed to determine the demand for taxis in the borough.

As the survey was requested by the drivers the cost must be met by the license fees.

A Bedford Borough Council spokesman said: "At the request of taxi vehicle owners, the council commissioned a report on the taxi market last year, the cost of which was to be met from license fees.

“This is a one year only increase and next year the fee will reduce. The alternative would be for the costs of the survey, which was requested by licensees, to be met by local taxpayers."

The association now has until March 9 to respond to the increase with any objections they may have.


Read more: http://www.bedfordshire-news.co.uk/News ... z2u1zerzQQ

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Bedford Hackney Carriage Drivers Association might have shoot themselfs in the foot IF THEY DID ASK for this survey to be carried out . But did they know in advance they would have to fund it ?

Can the cost of the survey be added to the drivers badge fee? Or is it the vehicle fee that is being increased?

_________________
Grandad,

It's the vehicle license as adding it to the driver's would be highly illegal.

However I wonder if the council have considered spreading the cost of the survey over three years like most other SUD survey councils.

_________________
IDFIMH

A year?

We only pay about £280 every three years.