FIGHTING INFLATED FEES


On 27 July 2023, Kirklees Council published proposals to increase the fees for hackney carriage and private hire drivers, operators and vehicles licensed in its district. The Huddersfield Hackney Carriage Association (HHCA) is leading the fight to challenge the proposed fee increases which range from 10 to 58.8 per cent.


Here we feature letters from the HHCA and consultants retained by the association com- municating their strong objections to the increase, backed up with solid evidence.


Dear Licensing Service and Committee Members Re: Proposed increase in HC & PH Licensing Fees.


We have been engaged on behalf of the Huddersfield Hackney Carriage Association to submit an objection


to the proposed fee increases as published in the Huddersfield Examiner on 27 July 2023.


Sections 53 and 70 Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 makes it clear that a district council may only charge such fees as may be sufficient to cover its actual reasonable costs of administration of the licences.


The council cannot make a profit from licence fees and any surplus must be carried forward and form part of any subsequent review of fees. It is accepted that this principle would also apply if there was a deficit. R (Cummings) v. Cardiff [2014] EWHC 2544


Having researched this matter we have ascertained that since 2008 to 31 March 2023, Kirklees Council has in total made surplus profits from the licensing account amounting to £3,985,000. (See table below)


Information obtained from Local Authority Returns on https://shorturl.at/bqIWX (— denotes surplus on the account)


56 SEPTEMBER 2023 PHTM


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