Licence fees on the increase

South Lanarkshire Council look set to increase the price of various licences for the first time in three years.

Taxi drivers, street traders, metal dealers, window cleaners and tattooists will all be hit by the increase which is expected to come into effect on January 1, 2018.

A finance committee will today discuss the proposal.

Officers say with inflation increasing, a price rise is needed.

A report to councillors states:“As a result of previously low inflation rate, the fees have not been increased since 2015. Inflation is now increasing and in order to ensure the council’s costs are recovered, it is necessary to increase the fees at this time.

“The proposed revised fees represent an approximate increase of three per cent in line with inflation.”

Some fees have been realigned to reflect increased costs from suppliers. Temporary fees will also rise. Taxi licenses will increase from £377 to £388 while private hire licences will be £381 – up from £370.

The cost of a replacement door sticker will rise to £15 while replacement plates could soon cost £25.

Knife dealers and wheelie bin dealers will also be affected.

A public entertainment licence will rise from £267 to £275.

Fairs, late-hours catering, indoor sports entertainment, second-hand dealers and market operators will all see the cost of a fee rise.

Even a licence for a sex shop will increase, from the current £652 to £672.