The fees and charges for a variety of licences issued by the council could go up from next spring if councillors approve a package of measures next week. The price increases are expected to affect licences for taxi and private hire drivers and operators as well as the likes of street traders, casinos, bingo halls, sex shops and body-piercing premises. The proposals – mostly for increases of about 5 per cent – are due to be decided by Brighton and Hove City Council’s licensing committee at Hove Town Hall.
If the committee rejects any of the recommendations, they are likely to be decided by the council’s cabinet at a meeting scheduled to take place on Thursday, February 13 as part of the budget-setting. READ MORE: Brighton and Hove City Council staff facing redundancy A report to the licensing committee said that, legally, the council should not make a profit from licence fees but should set them at a level to cover the relevant administrative costs. The report also said: “The proposed fees for 2025-26 take account of inflation, particularly on staffing costs, ensuring that costs are fully recovered.
“This is necessary in order to ensure that council tax payers are not subsidising work concerning licensing administration.” Among the changes will be the cost of a pitch at the Saturday market in Upper Gardner Street which is slated to go up from £590 to £620 – or 5.1 per cent.
In other areas, the annual fee for a street trader’s pitch could rise from £4,900 t.
