ROUND THE COUNCILS KIRKLEES:
FEE HIKE AMID ‘MISSING MILLIONS’ ROW
Kirklees Council has voted to approve an increase in hackney carriage and private hire licensing fees, despite facing a backlash from local taxi drivers who accuse the council of a “complete lack
of
transparency” over a historical financial surplus. The decision was made during a contentious Licensing and Safety Committee meeting on Monday, September 15, where drivers demanded a full account of what they claim are “millions” of pounds in licensing fee surpluses from before 2015. The council’s proposal was to raise fees to help address a cumulative £98,000 deficit in the licensing department, which had been running a surplus prior to 2015. The approved fee structure includes a three per cent increase starting from September 22, followed by a further two per cent increase (or the rate of inflation, whichever is lower) in 2026/27 and again in 2027/28. The council aims for the service to break even by March 2027. In real terms, this means a three-year driver’s licence will increase from £249.20 to £257 with the initial three per cent uplift, reaching £267 by 2027/28. Similarly, a five-year operator licence for three or more vehicles will rise from £1,166 to £1,201, with a total increase of £82 by 2027/28. However, the proposal sparked over 160 objections from drivers and operators, many of whom cited ongoing economic hardships from rising fuel, insurance, and maintenance costs. A significant number of objections focused on the council’s financial accountability. An objection signed by 31 people stated that the fee proposal “places an unfair and disproportionate burden” on drivers and criticsed the “complete lack of transparency regarding the financial rationale behind these increases.” It further noted that the council has “failed to release any financial documentation” regarding how surpluses generated before 2015 were used or carried forward. At the meeting, one driver articulated the core of the opposition, saying: “Our issue isn’t the fee increase. Our issue is the surplus that’s been made over the years... We’re not talking a small amount of money, we’re talking millions that have gone missing, basically.” Council officers responded that information from before 2015 was not included in the current report
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because a change in finance systems made the data unavailable. They advised drivers to contact the finance or information governance department directly for a “full and accurate” explanation. Trade representative Suhail Rasheed argued that without historic financial details, it was “impossible for us to have confidence that increases are being based on genuine costs rather than on mismanagement, inefficiency or even surplus charging in previous years.” Despite the drivers’ concerns, the committee approved the new fee structure, with two councillors abstaining from the vote.
DERBY: PHV AGE LIMIT CONSULTATION
Derby residents will have a significant role in a public consultation that will help decide whether private hire vehicles across the city should have an age limit or not.
The 12-week consultation was approved by the city council’s licensing committee following pushback from private hire drivers over a “too strict” new policy. The controversial rule, implemented by Derby City Council in April, requires all private hire vehicles to be five years old or less when first licensed. While the council claims the policy is “to ensure vehicles are in good condition and more likely to meet current safety and emissions standards,” drivers argue it is “too strict” and could force new drivers “out of business” due to the high cost of meeting the requirements. Councillor Martin Rawson, a licensing committee member, said the committee has “listened to all the evidence on both sides,” acknowledging the need to balance
environmental improvements with a
“sustainable taxi trade” that doesn’t “drive people out of business.” The consultation will ask residents to choose between three options: l Retain the current five-year age limit. l Remove the age limit entirely. l Introduce an alternative age limit (e.g., seven, eight, or nine years). The new data suggests Derby’s five-year age limit is a significant outlier compared to neighbouring cities. For example, Wolverhampton has an 11-year age restriction, Nottingham has 10 years, and Erewash and South Derbyshire councils have a seven-year limit.
OCTOBER 2025 PHTM
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