
Cabbies have raised formal objections against plans by Telford & Wrekin Council to increase licensing fees across the local hackney carriage and private hire trade.
The proposals drew seven objections from members of the private hire trade and a petition signed by 12 hackney carriage drivers after the council announced plans to raise renewal costs for both vehicles and drivers.
Under the proposed scheme, vehicle licence renewal fees will rise from £145 to £160, while driver licence renewals will jump from £162 to £190.
Additionally, the council intends to introduce a brand-new £40 fee for routine vehicle compliance inspections.
A council report prepared ahead of the Regulatory Committee meeting on Wednesday 11 November noted: "The vehicle compliance inspection fee has been introduced to support vehicle proprietors and to recover the costs associated with the administration and delivery of vehicle inspections."
Council officers stressed that fees are calculated to recover administrative and monitoring costs while adhering to Local Government Association guidance to protect local livelihoods.
The report highlighted that "the licensing team strives to streamline processes and maximise efficiency in order to reduce the burden on business," though failing to implement the increases would leave the council unable to recover its operational costs.
Councillors meeting next week have been recommended to approve the new charges. If agreed, the new £40 inspection fee will take effect immediately, while all other fee increases for taxi drivers are scheduled to come into force on 1 April 2027.

Jill Donison, 51, from Seaham, came up with the concept while working as a private hire driver and noticing how positively passengers reacted to having a woman behind the wheel.

The push for reform follows data revealing that the council received 89 complaints last year regarding drivers and vehicles licensed by other local authorities. 

The proposals would relax the rules for Category N vehicles, which have non-structural damage, and Category S, which have structural damage but can legally return to the road once repaired.

Leon Gladdis, 29, from Newport, was sentenced at the Isle of Wight Crown Court after admitting a series of dangerous offences across Devon and the Isle of Wight.

Councillors will meet on Wednesday 11 November to decide whether to introduce new licensing conditions requiring the city’s black cab drivers to carry working credit and debit card readers. 

A prominent taxi boss has warned drivers that a single mistake can destroy their livelihood after a major operator lost his licence. 

A big well done to Dara Singh, a driver with Wednesfield Cars in Wolverhampton, who went out of his way to ensure a loyal customer was reunited with his money.

The Telegraph reports that the tax authority has resurrected a dispute with the ride-hailing app concerning how much VAT the company should charge on rides.

Liverpool City Council Enforcement Officers inspected a Sefton-licensed private hire vehicle near Liverpool John Lennon Airport in March.

Post shared on Facebook: “Whoever this Gentleman is. You are a real life angel!!

This year 29 cabbies transported over 40 veterans to and from various remembrance day events across Edinburgh and the Lothians area.

Hundreds of London black cabs lined Westminster Bridge on Sunday 8 November, waiting to take veterans home from the Cenotaph without charging a penny.

The area, located in the Square Mile, was previously restricted to pedestrians, buses,and cyclists between 7am and 7pm on weekdays, with taxis barred from entry.

Tariq Mehmood, 48, of Reading, was found guilty in his absence at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court on 16 October 2026.

According to the Northampton Telegraph, the boy had been in the local taxi with a group of friends when an argument broke out between him and the driver. 

The surge in hackney carriage applications was highlighted during an Overview and Scrutiny Board meeting on 26 October, where councillors reviewed the local authority’s latest financial performance.

In a recent interview Khan argued that politicians have failed to grasp the sheer speed of technological change and insisted that TfL must be granted direct licensing powers to cap vehicle numbers. 

Under the new structure, basic flag fall rates will rise: with Tariff One moving from £3.50 to £3.90, Tariff Two increasing from £4.10 to £4.60, and Tariff Three jumping from £5.60 to £6.20. 

Violent passenger, Alexander Hindmarsh, who threatened to stab a cabbie in the face and cut out his eyeballs during a terrifying knifepoint attack has been jailed for more than seven years. 

Taxi Law has published research showing that approximately £1.1bn a year could be raised by applying VAT uniformly to private hire fares across the UK.
