Birmingham City Council, this week, has announced that it will be significantly reducing the licensing fees for hackney taxi and private hire car drivers from the 1st of April 2016. Boon!
Commitment
At a recent Licensing and Public Protection Committee meeting it was decided that due to a surplus balance, accrued over previous years, the council was able to pass on a reduction to the city’s drivers.
Chair of Birmingham’s Licensing and Public Protection Committee, Councillor Barbara Dring, said: “I’m pleased to be able to announce the proposed fee reductions for hackney carriage and private hire drivers.
“The new fees are based on a commitment we gave last year to reinvest a third of the carry forward balance each year from the taxi licensing account into the cost of licences.”
New Fees for Hackney Taxi & PHV Drivers
“Our licence fees in Birmingham are now lower than in many surrounding local authorities.”
The committee announced that the balance was sitting at £189,000 which resulted in some substantial reductions.
A three-year hackney carriage license will be reduced by 32 percent and private hire vehicle license slashed by a massive 49 percent.
Councillor Barbara Dring added: “Our licence fees in Birmingham are now lower than in many surrounding local authorities and comparable core cities.”
The proposed changes are to be advertised in a local newspaper for 28-days during which members of the public can file any objections. If no objections are received during that time the changes will take effect from 1st of April 2016.
We’re sure everyone in the trade will be delighted with the changes set to take place, let’s hope more areas follow suit.