Telford & Wrekin Council's regulatory committee approved higher hackney carriage and private hire fees on Wednesday 11 November 2026, the Shropshire Star reported. Councillors voted four to two. Private hire drivers and hackney carriage operators had objected, and no member of the public attended.
The meeting was at 6pm in the council chamber on the third floor of Southwater One, the venue given on the regulatory committee agenda.
A £40 vehicle compliance inspection fee takes effect immediately. Every other revised taxi and private hire charge starts on 1 April 2027. That split is the one in the report on regulatory licensing fees and charges. Inspections are carried out before a vehicle licence is granted or renewed, once a year or every six months according to the age of the vehicle.
What drivers will pay
The taxi and private hire figures are in Appendix A. A hackney carriage or private hire vehicle renewal rises from £145 to £160, and a new vehicle application from £155 to £170. A vehicle transfer rises from £105 to £120.
A new driver application rises from £172 to £200, and a driver renewal from £162 to £190.
A new private hire operator licence rises from £655 to £690 for one to five cars, from £860 to £910 for six to 20, from £1,000 to £1,060 for 21 to 50, and from £1,170 to £1,250 for 50 or more. Renewals on the same bands rise from £430 to £450, from £630 to £670, from £780 to £830, and from £950 to £1,020. An operator transfer rises from £105 to £120. A change of operator details stays at £70.
The vote
Councillor Rachael Tyrrell, Conservative group deputy leader and the member for Priorslee, opposed an increase in the fees paid by taxi drivers. The amount raised from taxi fees and charges was a "drop in the ocean" compared with the public expectation of regulating the trade. An increase "gives an impression" that taxi drivers can get services "easier and cheaper" in other council areas.
"If work goes to other councils we lose control.
"I would prefer to keep those fees where they are."
Councillor Stephen Handley (Labour, St George's) objected to the one-day street trading consent, which rises from £132 to £160. He has "always objected".
"It has increased from £60 to £80 to £132 and now £160."
He claimed a burger van would not make a profit if the operator had to pay £160 for three hours of trading, and he asked for an hourly rate instead. Officials would "note that and take it away". Other members pointed out that umbrella consents are available for more than one trader. The consent for up to five traders rises from £290 to £310, and the consent for more than 30 traders from £420 to £450.
Councillor Giles Luter (Labour, Ercall) called two years without an increase "a reasonable amount of time to give people breathing space".
"We have got to ensure we are not subsidising with public money."
The committee was told the service has to cover reasonable and legitimate costs and not make a profit.