Wrexham taxi drivers could be forced to pay more as part of revised licence fees

Taxi drivers in Wrexham could soon be forced to pay more money to operate in the county borough.

Wrexham Council is proposing to increase licence fees for hackney carriages, which are also known as black cabs, and private hire vehicles.

It would see charges for new hackney carriage licences go up from £168 to £243, while renewals would increase from the same amount to £234.

Meanwhile, private vehicle operators would have to fork out £238 for a licence instead of £186 with renewals rising to £230.

The local authority is also looking to introduce administrative fees ranging from £20 to cover the cost of replacement plates up to £44 for drivers to change their registration number.

A senior official said the price hikes were being put forward to reflect the cost of staff time.

In a report, the council’s chief officer for planning and regulatory Lawrence Isted said: “The fees charged for vehicle licences for private hire vehicles and hackney carriage vehicles were last considered by the environment and licensing committee in April 2016.

“The processes have changed since they were last reviewed, the cost of officer time has not previously been accurately reflected, and departmental structures have also changed since they were last reviewed.

“A complete and thorough review has been undertaken which takes into account up to date staffing costs that include all associated overheads.

“The revised fees also include an element that reflects the costs of ensuring compliance, staff training, dealing with complaints and enquiries and responding to changes in legal requirements.

“The committee are invited to agree the proposed revised and new fees subject to a period of consultation.”

The proposals include plans to remove a discount of ten per cent currently applied to all wheelchair accessible vehicles.

Mr Isted said the cost of providing the reduction in fees was ‘significant’ and making taxis available to wheelchair users was now normal.

He added the suggested fees were lower than in other neighbouring areas.

The new charges will be considered by members of the council’s environmental licensing committee at a meeting on Monday .

If approved, a consultation lasting 28 days would be held to gauge the views of taxi operators.

By Liam Randall – BBC Local Democracy Reporter (more here on the LDR scheme)