Taxi drivers push back against proposed licence fee increases in Barnsley
- Perry Richardson
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
Taxi and private hire drivers in Barnsley have voiced concerns over proposed licence fee increases, as the council moves to revise charges following a cost-based review of its licensing operations.
A report due before the Licensing Regulatory Board on 25 March 2026 outlines plans to increase driver, vehicle and operator licence fees, with a one-year driver licence rising from £150 to £165 and a vehicle licence increasing from £180 to £198. The council states the changes reflect updated operational costs, including staff time, compliance checks and administrative processes.
Officials said the revised fees are based on detailed time monitoring and are intended to ensure the licensing service remains cost-neutral. Under existing legislation, authorities are required to set fees that recover the cost of administering the licensing regime, but they cannot use those fees to fund enforcement against drivers or generate surplus income.
The authority also highlighted that enforcement activity, particularly against licensed drivers, must be funded separately. This creates an ongoing financial pressure on councils, as compliance activity continues to increase while fee income is restricted to administrative cost recovery.
Operators and drivers raise affordability concerns as council moves to adjust fees following cost review
However, consultation responses from drivers and operators point to mounting financial strain within the trade. One respondent stated they were “only left with between £8 and £9 per hour” after accounting for vehicle finance, fuel, insurance and platform commissions, and asked: “Haven’t we got enough to pay out without the licensing fees increasing again?”
Other submissions raised concerns about perceived value for money and service levels. One driver said they “don’t see or receive anything in return” and criticised difficulties contacting the licensing office. Another operator questioned the structure of operator licence fees, arguing it was unfair that small operators pay the same as businesses running large fleets, and pointed to neighbouring authorities using scaled fee models based on fleet size.
The proposals come amid wider cost pressures across the taxi and private hire sector, including rising insurance premiums, fuel costs and platform commissions. For operators, fee structures and regulatory consistency remain ongoing concerns, particularly where local authorities adopt differing approaches to licensing charges.
Members of the Licensing Regulatory Board will now consider the objections before making a final determination on the 2026 to 2027 fee levels. If approved, the new charges must be implemented within two months of the decision, following statutory consultation requirements.
The council has indicated that fees will be reviewed again within 12 months, suggesting further adjustments could follow as operational costs and licence volumes continue to evolve.
