Issue - meetings

Report of the Licensing Manager

Published 15 March 2023

The Licensing Manager presented the review of Licensing Fees for Taxi/private hire and miscellaneous licensing which provides detailed budget information and proposed fee levels to enable members to consider fees for 2023/24.  Licensing fees have been frozen since 2019/20 but costs have continued to rise consequently there is an average deficit of circa £80k over the period 2021/22 to 2022/23.  The Licensing service aims to set fees to return to full cost recovery, but it is not proposed to seek to recover losses from previous years.

It was proposed by Councillor Hamilton-Cox, seconded by Councillor Gardiner and agreed by the majority:

“That fees increase, not by the recommended amount, but by 20% (to the nearest pound) now; and to effect a further increase in the following year with a view to achieving full cost recovery in 24/25, accepting that the fee increases may again be above inflation.  The reason for the two-stage increase is to smooth the impact on the trade.”

Resolved:

That fees increase, not by the recommended amount, but by 20% (to the nearest pound) now; and to effect a further increase in the following year with a view to achieving full cost recovery in 24/25, accepting that the fee increases may again be above inflation.  The reason for the two-stage increase is to smooth the impact on the trade.