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19
Mar 2023
Explained: What happens to Harrogate taxis after devolution?
A new council is set to take over in the Harrogate district in three weeks’ time.
Both Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council will make way for North Yorkshire Council on April 1.
Under the new council, how taxi drivers operate and how they are licensed will change.
In this article, we will explain how taxis are currently licensed and what will change from April this year.
Who currently licences taxis?
Currently, Harrogate Borough Council licences taxi drivers within the district.
Those drivers who wish to operate a taxi in the borough must be licensed by the council.
Once they have a licence, they can drive their vehicle and operate anywhere in the district.
Similarly, the borough council is responsible for licensing wheelchair accessible cabs.
Who sets the fares?
As well as issuing licences, the borough council also sets the fares and fees for drivers.
The council reviews fares for taxis annually.
What will happen from April?
From April, the new North Yorkshire Council will implement a single taxi zone across the county.
The existing seven district councils, including Harrogate, currently have their own hackney carriage and private hire licensing policies.
However, under the new policy, drivers will be able to operate in any area of North Yorkshire.
The plan has proved controversial with local cabbies, who described it as a “disaster”.
They argue that the move would lead to taxis crowding out busier areas and leave rural communities without a service.
What about fares?
The council is currently considering how to set fares for taxis under its single zone policy.
A proposal over fares for North Yorkshire cabs is expected to go before councillors on Tuesday (March 21).
Read more:
- Explained: Who will make planning decisions in Harrogate district after devolution?
- Explained: What happens to bin collections in Harrogate after devolution?
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