Taxi users in Gwynedd face having to pay more for their journeys after calls to increase the maximum charge for the first time in eight years were approved.

A report, passed by Gwynedd’s General Licensing Committee, proposed raising the maximum cost of a two mile journey in a hackney cab from £5 to £6 following complaints from taxi firm owners.

The move follows a decision by the authority in June 2018 to hike the cost of licences for both drivers and operators in order to cover the council’s own administrative overheads.

The cost of a journey of one mile or less is currently £3, but would rise to £3.60 under the proposals.

But according to Gwynedd Council, the proposed £6 charge for a two mile journey would bring the county in line with neighbouring Anglesey, and was recommended following requests from Gwynedd taxi company owners.

The cost of a similar journey in Conwy is currently £5.20, £6 in Denbighshire,  £6.20 in Flintshire and £7.20 in Wrexham.

The maximum fare does not apply to journeys made in private hire vehicles booked in advance, however, with no additional charges proposed for drivers having to wait, or fees for carrying additional bags.

Addressing the meeting in Caernarfon, the committee chairman Cllr Peter Read said fares had remained largely stagnant since 2011.

“We must also remember that the companies do not have to charge the maximum amount, this gives them the choice.”

While Cllr Angela Russell said: “All this does is bring us in line with Anglesey.

“As it’s the taxi companies that have asked us to do this, I can’t see the problem to be honest.

“At the end of the day they have a lot of red tape they have to contend with, so we must also do our bit to support these local firms.”

While Cllr John Brynmor Hughes said: “It should be remembered that it’s not us as a council hiking the fares directly, but giving private companies the right to do so if they wish.”

The report noted that many firms already charge below the maximum fare, depending on what they consider to be a “competitive rate.”

“Over the past six years, the council has had to increase the fees charged for driver’s licences, taxi licences and taxi operator licences in order to attempt to recover the costs of processing and administrating licences; this has increased the financial burden on the industry,” it added.

“Although there has been no increase in fuel costs on average since 2011, the costs of appropriate insurance for licensed vehicles has increased.

“The proposed increase for the hackney vehicle journey maximum fare has been calculated by adding inflation at an average of 2.6 per cent per year to the price of the journey per mile that was fixed in 2011.”