AN “embarrassing” U-turn on taxi fares cost Worcester City Council £1,400, it has been revealed.
The authority agreed to increase the minimum charges for Hackney carriage journeys in the city back in June at the request of Worcester Taxi Association.
But the price hike was scrapped last week after the association said a survey of its members revealed a lack of support for the proposal.
QUESTIONS: Alex Mace asked how much the taxi U-turn had cost the council (Image: Councillor Alex Mace)
At a full council meeting on Tuesday (September 15), Councillor Alex Mace asked how much reviewing the fares, consulting on them and producing reports had cost the council.
He called the U-turn “embarrassing”.
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Richard Udall, chair of the council’s licensing and environmental health committee, said the cost was £1,400 and that he shared Cllr Mace’s frustration.
“We acted on a request from the taxi drivers’ association,” he said, adding that the U-turn shows Worcester is a “listening council and that consultation works”.
