Lewes District Council’s proposed rises to taxi licencing fees could see some costs go up by as much as 20 per cent, with the renewal cost of a three-year driver licence rising from £472.50 to £567 if approved.
Sean Macleod, former chairman of Lewes District Council’s licencing committee, said: “Enough is enough. Lewes District Council’s licensing fees are pushing the taxi trade to the brink.”
He criticised the decision to continue increasing fees for drivers who have only received one fare increase in seven years.
Mr Macleod said the number of hackney carriage drivers in the district has now dropped to around 80, warning that the proposals are putting the trade at breaking point.
He said: “It is high time that Lewes councillors stand up for the taxi trade by rejecting these proposed licensing fee hikes and, instead, granting the trade a fair fare increase.”
Former councillor Sean Macleod has criticised the proposed licence fee increases
Mr Macleod has launched a petition in response to the proposals, calling for an immediate freeze on all fee increases, an ‘unmet demand’ survey, a prompt fare review, and an independent audit of the licencing department.
The petition has so far received 245 signatures.
Proposed changes are set to be discussed at a meeting of the council’s licencing committee on Thursday, January 22.
A council report proposed that the majority of fees will be increasing by 10 per cent as a result of increasing “demand and inflation.”
However, the report also stated that some fees could increase by 20 per cent, mainly due to additional costs for administering CCTV in all licenced taxis.
It explained that Lewes District Council is now the data controller for the cameras, resulting in “significant operating costs”, and projected a £140,869 deficit in the taxi licencing budget by the end of the 2024/25 financial year.
A licenced taxi outside Lewes railway station (Image: Google)
In response to the criticism, a spokesperson for Lewes District Council said: “We value the vital service provided by the taxi trade in Lewes district.
“The review of licensing fees is an annual process undertaken by local authorities across the country, and is in accordance with national requirements to ensure our licensing service remains sustainable and continues to meet its statutory obligations.
“The proposed fees for 2025/2026 are currently at the consultation stage and no final decision has yet been made.
“This proposal will be considered by the licensing committee, which will review all relevant information before reaching a decision.”
The spokesperson continued: “Fee adjustments are never taken lightly. However, like all service providers, the council is facing significantly increased operating costs and inflationary pressures.
“The proposed increases reflect the actual cost of administering the scheme and ensuring the safety of the public and the taxi trade.
“Any petition submitted to the council will be considered through the authority’s formal processes.”
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