SOMERSET Council has published proposed changes to the maximum fares that hackney carriage taxis can charge.

Hackney carriage fares are calculated using an electronic meter installed in the vehicle. As the licensing authority, Somerset Council has the power to set the maximum fares that can be charged through a published table of fares. Drivers may choose to charge less than these maximum rates.

Tables of fares can vary dramatically from council to council, with different rates and/or percentage multipliers for different times of the day, days of the week and on public holidays.

The current maximum fares were introduced in May 2024.

Following a survey of licensed hackney carriage proprietors, in which 59 percent of respondents supported some form of increase, the council is proposing changes that reflect inflationary pressures and changes in fuel costs since the current fares were introduced.

The proposed changes include a 10 percent increase to the maximum distance and waiting time charges as well as a discretionary maximum booking fee of up to £10 for pre-booked journeys.

The proposal aims to encourage drivers to accept bookings in rural areas, where drivers may need to travel significant distances before reaching a passenger.

No changes are being proposed to the existing percentage multipliers for evenings, weekends, public holidays or journeys involving more than four passengers, and the the existing maximum soiling charge of £100 is to be retained as well as the ability to be able to recover toll and clean air zone charges where applicable.

The proposed maximum standard tariff would see an increase from £4.60 to £5.06 for the first mile, with each additional tenth of a mile increasing from 30p to 33p. The maximum waiting time charge would increase from £1.00 to £1.10 for every completed two minutes.

Somerset Council’s lead member for communities, Cllr Federica Smith-Roberts, said: “Hackney carriages provide an important service for communities across Somerset, helping people get to work, medical appointments, shops and other essential destinations.

“The proposed changes seek to balance the rising costs faced by drivers with the need to keep fares fair for passengers.

“The maximum fares set the upper limit that licensed taxi drivers can charge, but individual taxi businesses remain free to set their rates below those levels.

“Under the legal process for setting hackney carriage fares, the council must consider any objections received before a final decision is made.

“If no objections are received, the proposed table of fares will take effect automatically.”

As part of the statutory process, anyone who wishes to object to the proposed table of maximum fares can do so through Somerset Council’s Citizen Space survey.

The survey asks for your name, whether you are responding as a resident, business, visitor or member of the licensed taxi trade, and your reason or reasons for objecting to the proposed table of fares.

A list of the maximum charges and the survey is available at: https://somersetcouncil.citizenspace.com/licensing/maximum-taxi-fares/