The Torridge District Council Licensing Committee convened to discuss taxi fares and licensing policies. The meeting was scheduled to cover a taxi fare increase, a review of the taxi policy, and a consideration of the forward plan. There were no items scheduled for discussion in a closed session.

Taxi Policy Review

The Lead Licensing Officer was scheduled to present a report to the committee regarding the informal trade consultation as part of the review of the council's Licensing Policy for Taxis and Private Hire Licences.

The report pack stated that there had been a low response rate to the survey, but that the primary area of concern for those who responded was the proposed requirement for electric/low emission vehicles from 2030, due to:

the financial outlay for new vehicles, current lack of the necessary infrastructure, uncertainty around second hand trade for electric vehicles, battery range in a large rural authority and battery life.

The report pack included a draft of the updated policy, and highlighted proposed amendments to the policy in the following areas: accessibility, fire extinguishers and first aid kits, and convictions policy. The report pack recommended that members approve the draft policy and commencement of the formal consultation process.

The current Licensing Policy Taxi and Private Hire Licences 2022 - 2025 covers a number of areas including:

• vehicles - general requirements
• taxis
• non-motorised taxis
• private hire vehicles
• drivers - general requirements
• private hire operators
• disability issues
• enforcement

Taxi Fare Increase

The Lead Licensing Officer was scheduled to present a report to the committee regarding a recent fare consultation with hackney carriage proprietors, and to consider whether to increase the existing fare tariff.

The consultation was sent to all 26 licensed hackney carriage proprietors, with 23 proprietors responding. The results showed that 16 (70%) were in favour of an increase, and 7 (30%) were against an increase.

The consultation also requested views on a suggested level of increase, with votes received on the following options:

• Option A: Flag fare (first ¾ mile) increase to £5.00, £3.30 per mile thereafter (6 votes)
• Option B: Flag fare (first ¾ mile) increase to £4.50, £3.30 per mile thereafter (3 votes)
• Option C: Reduce Flag fare distance (first ½ mile), Flag fare remain at £4.00, £3.30 per mile thereafter (8 votes)

The report pack also noted that there had been proposals put forward for a change to the night/Sunday rate (Tariff 2) to commence at 10pm instead of the current 11pm.

The report pack included a table comparing the cost of some journeys under the current tariff, and under each of the proposed options. For example, a 2 mile journey to Atlantic Village currently costs £8.00, and would cost £9.38, £8.88, or £9.20 under options A, B, and C respectively.

The report pack stated that, as of 1 September 2025, Torridge was ranked 88 out of the 341 local authorities which regulate hackney carriage fares, and that the national average two mile hackney fare on tariff one is £7.34. It also included a table comparing Torridge to other Devon authorities.

The report pack recommended that:

1. Members consider the information contained in this report and make a decision as to whether or not to increase the existing fares.

And, if a fare increase is approved:

1. That the level of increase be determined; and
2. the proposed fares be advertised for a period of not less than 14 days as required by s. 65(2) of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976; and, provided there are no objections, the proposed fares be introduced on 1st November 2025.

Consideration of the Forward Plan

The committee was scheduled to consider the Licensing Committee Forward Plan for 2025/2026. The forward plan included items scheduled for discussion at future meetings. These included the Taxi Policy and the Small Commercial Vessel Policy.