LICENCE fees for taxi drivers and owners in East Yorkshire could be cut.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council is to ask the taxi and private hire trade for their views on plans to reduce the amount they pay to operate, saying it is one of the few local authorities in the UK which is not looking to raise prices.

It is recommending new licences should be cut from £138 a year to £130, and that renewal fees should fall from £117 a year to £110, with more discounts for drivers who pay electronically.

The consultation will run from tomorrow to February 28.

Coun Jackie Cracknell said: “Taxi and private hire owners provide an essential transport service, particularly in rural areas, and we are doing everything we can to support the trade.

“By working to keep our own costs low, we are passing our efficiencies onto the taxi trade which we hope will, in turn, help East Yorkshire’s residents.”

The fees would cover 257 private hire vehicles, 157 taxis and up to 600 drivers.