The report pack for the Community Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee (5 March 2026) has now been published, and it contains the headline results of the Taxi Zone Consultation.
This is the first time we have seen the official breakdown of responses.
Headline Consultation Result
- 72.6% of respondents supported retaining the existing six taxi zones
- 24.1% supported amalgamating the zones
- 3% were neutral
- 413 responses in total
- 51% of respondents were from the taxi & private hire trade
In practical terms, nearly three-quarters of respondents opposed de-zoning Cornwall.
That is a clear and significant majority!
What the Report Confirms
The published report makes several important points:
- The decision is binary and irreversible.
If zones are amalgamated, they cannot legally be reinstated. - There is no clear mitigation mechanism to control where taxis choose to operate if zones are removed.
The report acknowledges that clustering in busier areas may occur and that there is limited ability to control this. - A new unified table of fares would need to be created and consulted upon if de-zoning proceeds.
- There is no preferred officer recommendation stated in the report — Scrutiny must recommend either retention or amalgamation to Cabinet.
Rural Impact – Still a Live Concern
Many consultation responses raised concerns about:
- Taxis gravitating toward busier towns
- Reduced availability in rural areas
- Seasonal income disruption
- Potential unintended knock-on effects
The report recognises these concerns but also acknowledges that mitigation options are limited if zones are removed.
That is a significant policy consideration.
The Booking Fee Question
Regardless of the outcome, one issue becomes increasingly important:
If de-zoning proceeds, there must be clarity around tariff structure and booking fees.
The removal of zones would substantially increase reliance on pre-booked work. That needs to sit clearly and lawfully within the framework of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.
Even under the current six-zone system, clarity around booking fee mechanisms is already essential.
If the operational landscape changes, that clarity becomes even more important for:
- Service viability
- Rural coverage
- Passenger certainty
- Legal robustness
This will be a key issue during any future unified tariff consultation.
What Happens Next?
- Scrutiny Committee considers the report: 5 March 2026
- Committee makes recommendation to Cabinet
- Cabinet makes the final decision
- If amalgamation is approved, public notices must be issued and a new table of fares consulted upon
Final Thought
This consultation result shows strong engagement from the trade and wider community.
Whatever the final decision, it is vital that:
- It is implemented carefully
- Long-term consequences are properly considered
- The structural realities of taxi and private hire legislation are respected
We will continue to monitor developments and update members as this progresses.