Proposed taxi tariff changes for Stafford Borough could see a 90p jump in ‘Flag Fall’
- Perry Richardson
- Jul 14
- 2 min read
Stafford Borough Council is considering a proposal to raise taxi fares following a formal request from the Stafford Taxi Rank Association, representing local Hackney Carriage drivers.
The proposed increase, which was set out for public consultation at the 7 July 2025 Cabinet meeting, is designed to address the rising operational costs faced by the taxi trade.
The revised tariff suggests increasing the starting fare, known as the “flag fall”, on Tariff 1 from £3.10 to £4.00. There are no proposed changes to the distance-based charges. The uplift would give drivers a 13–14% increase for shorter journeys, in line with inflation measured by the Retail Price Index since the last increase in 2022. For longer journeys, the percentage increase would be lower due to the unchanged per-mile rates.
Under the proposals, a standard two-mile journey on Tariff 1 would cost £7.40, positioning Stafford Borough at joint 144th out of 341 local authorities for fare levels, compared with its current rank of 265th.
The Council noted that this proposal comes amid increased costs for vehicles, fuel, insurance and maintenance. It acknowledged the importance of supporting the local taxi trade to maintain a viable, wheelchair-accessible service, which is distinct from private hire and app-based alternatives like Uber. The number of licensed Hackney Carriages has fallen from 62 to 57 since 2022, a drop of just over 8%.
If the Cabinet approves the consultation, the proposed tariff will be advertised in accordance with legal requirements. The revised fares will come into force unless objections are received within the statutory 14-day period. Should objections be submitted, these would be reviewed before any final decision is taken.
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