Not a single taxi operator in East Lothian asked for a fare increase to be introduced this year, leaving charges frozen for the third year in a row.
A meeting of East Lothian Council's licensing sub-committee heard more than 70 operators were contacted ahead of its regular review of fares - with no response from any of them.
Committee members agreed to keep the fares at the same price following the lack of response, however concerns were raised over the lack of communication between the local authority and the taxi trade.
READ MORE: Taxi fare rise in Midlothian put to public ahead of price hike
Councillor John McMillan told a virtual meeting of the committee that given this week had seen the highest increase in fuel prices in the UK in a single day, he was "uncomfortable" keeping the status quo.
He said: "Costs must be going up for them."
The council is required to review taxi fares every 18 months and the last review followed a consultation with the trade which was launched on March 20, 2020, as the country went into its first lockdown, and ended six weeks later with no responses, leading to no increase.
This time around the trade was contacted between January 10 this year and February 21, but again failed to request an increase.
Licensing sub-committee convenor Councillor Colin McGinn asked officers "you are saying there were zero responses at all to the consultation?" and was told that was correct.
It means fares have not gone up since June 2019 when an increase was requested from operators and agreed by licensing chiefs.
Cllr McGinn told members: "I think we need to go back to the drawing board about how we engage with the taxi trade."
Neighbouring Midlothian Council agreed to increase taxi fares for its operators by up to 20% in March this year after a six year price freeze.
The East Lothian licensing committee agreed to write to operators in the county again informing them of the decision and urging them to get in touch for talks with a review of the position posi=sible next year.
Councillor Tom Trotter said: "It is not that we are not in touch with the trade, it its the trade that is not in touch with us.
"We need to look at ways to get them more engaged."
