North Yorkshire Council set to freeze hackney carriage fares despite trade pressure to increase them
- Perry Richardson
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
North Yorkshire Council is recommending no change to the current maximum hackney carriage fares following a consultation and multiple requests from the trade calling for an increase.
Three separate requests were received, each highlighting rising business costs linked to government changes to minimum wage and National Insurance thresholds. The Take Me Group, representing 48 drivers, called for a 5–10% increase in Tariff 1 and a 10% uplift in Tariffs 2 and 3, which did not rise last year. Driver Richard Fieldman requested a rise in flag fall from £4.00 to £4.20 and 5% increases across mileage and waiting time. Operator Kevin O’Boyle warned he had no way of offsetting rising costs without a fare increase.
Despite these pressures, a public consultation between June and July this year found limited support for fare rises. Of the 290 responses received, 70% of trade respondents and 97% of residents, visitors and businesses felt current fares were either too high or about right.
The current daytime fare for a three-mile journey stands at £9.99, increasing to £14.98 at night and £19.98 during the Christmas and New Year period. The Council’s comparison against neighbouring authorities confirmed North Yorkshire’s fares were broadly in line or slightly higher across all tariff bands.
Additional economic factors weighed into the decision. Fuel prices have fallen by 8.5% since July 2024. The annual cost of living has risen by 4.1%, while the average cost of running a vehicle has decreased by 3%. These figures played a key role in the Council’s assessment that the existing fare structure remains sustainable for drivers and acceptable to the public.
While the Council acknowledged the need to balance fair pay for drivers with affordability for passengers, the data did not present a compelling case for change. The report concluded that drivers could continue to earn a reasonable living without a fare increase, particularly given the recent drop in fuel and operational costs.
The Executive is now expected to approve the recommendation to maintain the current fare table. Should they instead opt for a change, statutory notices will be issued, followed by a further period for objections.
