Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome: Recommendations Approved (subject to call-in)

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: March 17, 2026

Purpose: To consider a request from the taxi trade to amend the Hackney Carriage Fare Chart and if necessary, agree the statutory consultation process.

Content: RESOLVED that the Cabinet   i.      notes the existing tariffs which have been in place since 16 June 2022 (Appendix B).   ii.     considers the Hackney Carriage Fare Chart put forward by the trade (Appendix A).   iii.    considers if statutory consultation should be undertaken on revisions to the table of fares for hackney carriage tariffs.   iv.   agrees that the consultation will run from the 18 March 2026 to the 01 April 2026.   v.     agrees that a public notice (as set out in Appendix C) will be placed in the Bracknell News on the 18 March 2026.   vi.   agrees that the consultation will be promoted on the Public Protection Partnership’s website and a note will be displayed at the Time Square Offices on the 18 March 2026.   vii.  agrees that a copy of the notice should be emailed individually to all Bracknell licensed Hackney Carriage Proprietors for their comments.   viii.notes that the Licensing and Safety Committee will, at the June 2026 meeting, be informed about the outcome of the consultation and any ensuing decisions taken by the Cabinet.   ix.   notes that if objections are received and not withdrawn the Cabinet at its meeting on the 28 April 2026 will consider the business case alongside any objections and determine whether the proposed varied table of fares, with or without modification, will come into operation and the revised implementation date.   x.     notes that if no objections are received or if they are withdrawn the revised table of fares will come into effect on the 02 April 2026 or the day after the withdrawal of the last objection.

Reasons for the decision: i.      Local authorities have a statutory power to set the maximum fares that licensedhackney carriages (taxis) can charge for a journey. Under section 65  of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, local authorities have the power to “…fix the rates or fares within the district as well for time as distance, and all other charges in connection with the hire of a vehicle or with the arrangements for the hire of a vehicle, to be paid in respect of the hire of hackney carriages by means of a table (hereafter in this section referred to as a “table of fares”) made or varied in accordance with the provisions of this section.”   ii.     The taxi trade has submitted a business case asking for two changes to the existing fare chart. The first change seeks to increase the existing fouling charges from £50 (internal fouling) and £10 (external fouling) to £80 (internal fouling) and £25 (external fouling). The trade has stated that these charges are proposed to reflect that valeting and car wash costs have increased over the years.   iii.    The second change is a presentational change in relation to journeys when vehicles are carrying five or more passengers. The current fare chart states “When this vehicle is carrying more than 4 passengers, a surcharge of 50% will be applied to the fare shown on the meter at the end of the journey. This will however not be shown on the taximeter.” The trade have reported that this causes confusion for passengers and that they would prefer to show the information as stated on Appendix A and for the fares to be programmed into the meters.

Alternative options considered: Not to increase the fouling charges or the presentation of the fare chart.