Uttlesford Council proposes 2026/27 licence fee increases for taxis and private hire trade
- Perry Richardson
- Sep 27
- 1 min read
Uttlesford District Council has published plans to raise hackney carriage and private hire licensing fees from 1 April 2026. The proposal will now go out for public consultation before any final decision is made.
The draft fee structure includes a 3.52% rise in the standard driver licence and a 3.86% increase in the standard vehicle licence. According to the council, the changes are necessary to ensure the service continues to operate on a cost-recovery basis, in line with legal requirements under Section 70 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.
Licensing officers say the proposed increases reflect higher staffing costs following pay awards, salary increments and inflation. They warned that freezing or reducing fees would lead to a deficit, which could result in local taxpayers covering costs that should be met by the trade.
A report to the council’s Licensing and Environmental Health Committee outlines that while only vehicle and operator fees are legally subject to consultation, Uttlesford will also include driver fees in the process for full transparency.
The consultation period is set to run through October and November. It will include direct notification to existing licence holders, notices in the local press and publication on the council website. Officers also intend to offer meetings, both virtual and in-person, to gather feedback from the trade.
If no objections are received, the proposed fees will be submitted to Full Council for approval and implemented in April. Any objections would see the matter return to committee in January for further discussion.
