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Telford taxi drivers oppose proposed licensing fee increases as council considers new vehicle inspection charge
Taxi and private hire drivers in Telford could face increased licensing costs under proposals being considered by Telford & Wrekin Council, including the introduction of a new Vehicle Compliance Inspection fee.
The council’s Regulatory Committee is due to consider the revised licensing charges on Wednesday 11 November 2026, with most changes scheduled to take effect from 1 April 2027 if approved.
However, the proposed Vehicle Compliance Inspection fee would be introduced immediately following approval, creating an earlier change for taxi and private hire vehicle proprietors.
The proposals have already attracted objections from the licensed trade. A statutory consultation held between 28 September and 26 October 2026 received seven responses from private hire representatives, alongside a petition signed by 12 members of the hackney carriage trade opposing the proposed increases.
According to the committee report, the revised charges follow a review of licensing costs, compliance requirements, administrative processes and relevant legislation. The council last reviewed its taxi and private hire licensing fees in 2024, with those charges taking effect on 1 April that year.
The new Vehicle Compliance Inspection fee is intended to recover the administrative and operational costs associated with checking licensed vehicles before a licence is granted or renewed.
Vehicle inspections are required annually or every six months, depending on vehicle age. The proposed charge would cover officer time spent arranging, conducting and recording inspections to establish whether vehicles continue to meet the authority’s safety and compliance standards.
For vehicle proprietors, the additional inspection charge could affect the cost of maintaining a licensed vehicle, particularly where six-monthly inspections are required.
The council says licensing fees must be calculated on a cost-recovery basis, taking account of the statutory expenses authorities are permitted to recover. Charges must not be used to generate a profit.
The committee report also recognises that fee increases can affect licence holders’ livelihoods. It states that the council follows Local Government Association guidance when setting charges to support a fair and transparent approach.
Council officers warn that retaining existing charges could leave the authority unable to recover the full costs of administering licences and monitoring compliance. Any resulting shortfall could place additional pressure on local taxpayers.
The report acknowledges a potential financial risk from legal challenges to fee changes, although officers say this has been addressed through consideration of relevant legislation and fee-setting guidance.
The wider review also covers gambling, street trading, animal establishments and other licensing activities. However, the taxi and private hire sector was the only area identified in the report as having submitted objections during the statutory consultation.
A decision is expected today when the Regulatory Committee considers the recommendations on 11 November.
