Sefton considers new late-night hackney carriage fare rises and weekend tariff

Hackney carriage drivers in Sefton could soon charge higher fares following a review of the local tariff structure. A report presented to the Licensing and Regulatory Committee today outlines requests from trade representatives to introduce a new weekend tariff and increase existing fares across the board.

The proposed changes aim to reflect rising operational costs, inflation, and to address ongoing driver shortages.

One of the main proposals is the introduction of a new “Tariff 3”, which would apply between midnight and 6am on Fridays and Saturdays. The fare would start at £4.40. This is part of a wider plan to better serve the nighttime economy by encouraging more drivers to work late weekend shifts.

The trade has also asked for Tariff 2, currently applied from 11pm, to begin two hours earlier at 9pm. Tariff 2 fares would also increase from £3.60 to £4.00 for the initial charge. Tariff 1, the standard daytime rate, would increase from £2.90 to £3.20. Tariff 4, which applies to bank holidays and Christmas periods, would see the starting fare rise from £4.10 to £4.80.

Based on typical journey lengths, passengers would pay between 30p and 70p more depending on the distance and time of travel. Waiting time charges would also be adjusted slightly, with 25p or 30p applied per 60 seconds depending on the tariff.

A move to calendar-controlled meters is also on the table. This would remove the current need for manual adjustments by drivers when switching tariffs, reducing the risk of errors and disputes.

Trade representatives believe the changes will help make the profession more financially sustainable and attractive to new drivers. The number of licensed hackney carriage vehicles in Sefton stands at 213, down from the total of 271 licences currently held.

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The council has confirmed that Sefton remains among the lowest in fare rates both regionally and nationally. The last fare rise came into effect in October 2023.

Any approved changes will need to go through a public consultation. If no objections are received, the new tariffs could be implemented 14 days after being published locally. If objections are raised, the matter would be passed to the Licensing and Regulatory (Urgent Referrals) Committee for further consideration.

A proposed increase to the maximum charge for vehicle fouling is also included, rising from £40 to £50.

The committee will now review the recommendations before deciding on whether to proceed.