Taxi Fare Scale Consultation

What you told us

The initial trade consultation ran from 2 March to 2 April 2026. Its purpose was to inform the fare scale proposed for public consultation.

Trade feedback

• Participation:

35 responses were received, representing 2.3% of the trade

• Support for Change:

48.6% wanted no change; 37.1% wanted change; and 14.3% were unclear.
Support for change was highest for standard, late-night and festive rates, at 37.9% each
Suggested increases ranged from 6.0% to 73.9%, mainly due to increased operating costs
Of those seeking change, 58.4% said removing December weekends from the festive rate would have a critical impact, while 33.5% said it would have a positive impact

• Trading and Practicalities of the Scale:

51.4% described trade as poor; 42.0% described it as okay
51.4% stated that they always charged the full metered fare
88.6% stated that unrounded charges did not cause them an issue when it came to calibrating their meter
62.9% stated that unrounded charges caused them no issue when it came to the need to carry change

The Licensing Sub-Committee considered the trade feedback on 1 May 2026 and agreed to consult publicly on a proposed scale with no fare increase subject to further views being taken on the period to be covered by the festive season rate.

Public consultation

Public consultation ran from 22 May to 22 June 2026. Views were invited from the public and the trade to help fix the final fare scale, intended to take effect by the end of 2026.

Public and trade feedback

• Participation:

6 public responses were received
17 trade responses were received, representing 1.1% of the trade

• Support for Change:

50.0% of public respondents wanted change, mainly reductions
58.8% of trade respondents wanted change, mainly increases
Combined consultation responses showed greatest support for changing standard charges, late-night charges and festive rates
Trade respondents suggested increases of 10% to 19%, citing increased operating costs
62.5% of respondents, including all public respondents, wanted the festive rate period to remain unchanged
Combined trade responses showed 52.4% felt removing December weekends from the festive rate would negatively affect their business
66.7% of public respondents said removing December weekends from the festive rate would not affect their taxi use

• Trading and Practicalities of the Trade:

50.0% of the trade who responded to the public consultation felt that trade was neutral under the current scale
25.0% felt that trade was good under the current scale
12.5% felt that trade was poor under the current scale
62.5% stated that they always charged the full metered fee allowed
100.0% confirmed that they accepted card payments – with 81.2% facing further charges when doings so
87.5% stated that unrounded charges did not cause them an issue when it came to calibrating their meter
68.8% stated that unrounded charges caused them no issue when it came to the need to carry change

What we're doing

The Licensing Sub-Committee considered the consultation responses received at their meeting on 28 August 2026, alongside the views which were expressed by a member of the trade at their meeting.

The Licensing Sub-Committee determined that a new scale should be fixed, incorporating a 5% increase on the previous charges with this taking effect from 1 November 2026, this being subject to any appeal lodged by the trade.