Amendments to Taxi Fare and Scale Review after Consultation
Perth and Kinross Council · 30 June 2025
Back to Licensing Committee — 30 June 2025 and its agenda
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Our vision is a Perth and Kinross where everyone can live life well, free from poverty and inequality ___________________________________________________________________ Committee or Board: Licensing Committee Date of Meeting: 30 June 2025 Report Title: Amendments to Taxi Fare and Scale Review after Consultation Report Number: 25/176 Report Author: Sarah Rodger, Legal Manager Organisational Lead: Lisa Simpson, Strategic Lead, Legal and Governance ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Purpose 1.1 The Council is required to review the scales of fares and other charges for Taxis in the area at intervals of not more than 18 months. This report outlines the findings of the most recent review and proposes that the Committee consider whether there be an increase in the fares, and alterations made to the current Scale of Taxi Fares card. 1.2 Sections 1. Purpose 2. Recommendations 3. Background 4. Current Considerations 5. Proposal 6. Conclusion/Rationale for Recommendations 7. Impact Value Assessment 8. Appendices
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2. Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended that the Licensing Committee: 2.1.1. Considers whether to increase the current Scale of Taxi Fares and, if so, whether that increase be by 3% or 5% in consideration of the operator feedback set out in section 3.6 of this report. 2.1.2. Agree that the change to the current Scale of Taxi Fares be updated as set out in section 4.1 of this report. 2.1.3. Agree that the Scale of Taxi Fares be advertised in the local press and interested parties are invited to respond within one (1) month of the advertisement. 2.1.4. Agree that if no adverse comments or representations are received after advertising, the new scale of fees and changes to the taxi tariff card commence from a date specified by the Strategic Lead - Legal and Governance in the advertisement, that date to be approximately six weeks after the date of the advertisement. 3. Background 3.1 The Council has a statutory duty in terms of Section 17 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (“1982 Act”) to review its scales for fares and other taxi related charges at least every 18 months. The last review was conducted in October 2023. 3.2 The 1982 Act sets out the process to be followed when carrying out a review. That process was commenced in March 2025. All individual operators and organisations representing, or appearing to be, representative of the operators of taxis were consulted in relation to proposals for a fare increase and changes to the current Scale of Taxi Fares card. 3.3 As detailed in the previous report to the Committee (No. 25/116) dated 12 May 2025, several operators have expressed that they wish the Scale of Taxi Fares to include a tariff which would apply from 10pm to 6am and Easter holidays for journeys carrying five or more passengers. An equivalent tariff exists for journeys carrying four or fewer passengers. 3.4 The Licensing Committee agreed to the changes in principle as set out in the previous report to the Committee (No. 25/116). The proposed changes were put out for consultation to all those operators with meters fitted. 3.5 Where a single named Licence Holder holds multiple licences for vehicles fitted with meters, a single view of that Licence Holder is considered. Where the Licence Holder is a partnership, a single view based on a consensus between those partners is considered. Based on this requirement of a single view per named Licence Holder, 97 operators were contacted for views.
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3.6 Of the 97 operators with meters fitted in their vehicles that contacted for views, 50 replies were received. The results are as follows: • 5 operators (10%) indicated they would like no change to the fares • 15 operators (30%) indicated they would like an increase of 3% • 28 operators (56%) indicated they would like an increase of 5% • 2 (4%) responses were spoiled 3.7 These same 97 operators with meters fitted in their vehicles also were asked their views on the introduction of an additional tariff to be used for larger vehicles carrying 5 or more passengers from 10pm to 6am and over the Easter holidays. 3.8 Of the 97 operators with meters fitted in their vehicles that were contacted for views, 50 replies were received. The results were as follows: • 36 operators (72%) agree with the introduction of an additional tariff • 12 operators (24%) disagree with the introduction of an additional tariff • 2 responses (4%) were spoiled 3.9 It was also highlighted by the operators that the existing tariff for carrying four or fewer passengers from 10pm to 6am and Easter holidays also allows for the tariff to apply to hirings begun on a Sunday. Therefore, it is proposed that the new Tariff 3 apply in the same manner for hirings begun on a Sunday for larger vehicles carrying five or more passengers. 3.10 Before any new scale of fares and other charges can come into force the Council must advertise any new proposed scale in the local press to give an opportunity for public representations. The notice must also specify the date on which it is proposed that the tariff shall take effect, which must take account of the period for representations and for appeals to the Traffic Commissioner. It is therefore suggested that the proposed date of coming into effect should be approximately six weeks after the date of advertising. 3.11 Following the coming into effect of the tariff, all operators would be advised of the changes and the date on which the change comes into effect. 4. Current Considerations 4.1 Inclusion of NEW Tariff 3 in Scale of Taxi Fares 4.1.1 Taxi fare tariffs to be revised further for larger vehicles carrying 5 or more passengers to allow for an additional tariff which would apply from 10pm-6am and Easter holidays. This would replicate a similar tariff that exists for normal vehicles carrying up to 4 passengers. 4.1.2 The existing tariff for carrying four or fewer passengers from 10pm to 6am and Easter holidays also allows for the tariff to apply to hirings begun on a Sunday. It is proposed that the new Tariff 3 apply in the same manner for larger vehicles carrying 5 or more passengers.
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4.1.3 This is considered to be a reasonable request and would provide a consistent tariff scheme regardless of vehicle size, with two tariffs being available depending on the time of day, size of vehicle and number of passengers being carried. 4.2 Change to fares 4.2.1 Consideration of which of the following options to select: • no change to the current fares • 3% increase; • 5% increase. 5. Proposals 5.1. Change to fares The Committee has three possible courses of action open to it: 5.1.1 Option 1: Agree to no increase in the tariffs as favoured by 10% of respondents. 5.1.2 Option 2: Agree to a 3% increase across the tariffs as favoured by 30% of respondents. 5.1.3 Option 3: Agree to a 5% increase across all tariffs as favoured by 56% of respondents. 5.2. Inclusion of NEW Tariff 3 in Scale of Taxi Fares The Committee has two possible courses of action open to it: 5.2.1 Option 1: Agree to inclusion of a new Tariff 3 to apply from 10pm – 6am and Easter holidays and hirings begun on a Sunday for larger vehicles carrying 5 or more passengers. 5.2.2 Option 2: Disagree to all or some of the changes to the Scale of Taxi Fares card set out in Option 3 above. 6. Conclusion/Rationale for Recommendations 6.1 This report refers to proposed changes to the current Scale of Taxi Fares and related tariffs and sets out the options available to the Licensing Committee. It asks the Licensing Committee to consider proposals for changes to the current scale of taxi fares and other changes and associated tariffs. The Committee should consider the balance between costs to the operator with regard to the running and upkeep of vehicles alongside how any increase in fares may affect paying members of the public.
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7. Impact Assessments 7.1 An Impact Value Assessment has been completed and is attached as Appendix 2 to this Report. 7.2 An Equality and Fairness Impact Assessment based on possible impacts to protected equality characteristics has been completed and is attached as Appendix 3 to this Report. 7.3 A Child Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment has been completed and is attached as Appendix 4 to this Report. 8. Appendices 8.1 Appendix 1 – Current Scale of Taxi Fares Card 8.2 Appendix 2 - Impact Value Assessment 8.3 Appendix 3 – Equality and Fairness Impact Assessment 8.4 Appendix 4 - Child Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment