Appendix 1 - Allocation Scheme for Additional Taxi Operator Licences
Perth and Kinross Council · 15 December 2025
Back to Licensing Committee — 15 December 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Appendix 1 Allocation Scheme for Additional Taxi Operator Licences Purpose This Scheme is designed to ensure transparent, lawful and efficient allocation of the 24 additional Taxi Operator Licences and in doing so, adds additional socio- economic value in line with the Council’s strategic priorities. Principles Underpinning the Scheme Accessibility for Disabled Passengers All licences issued under this scheme will require the associated vehicle to be a wheelchair-accessible vehicle (WAV). This condition addresses unmet demand identified in the 2024/25 survey and consultation. Growing the local taxi trade Priority will be given to applicants who do not currently hold a taxi operator licence or have any beneficial interest in one (for example, in partnership). This approach opens the trade to new operators, which diversifies the market, promoting resilience and availability of taxi services to the public. Fairness and Transparency An initial deadline will be set for applications under this scheme and applications received prior to that deadline will be processed strictly in date and time order and in line with the priority criteria set out in this Scheme. Each applicant will be limited to one licence in the first round to ensure equal opportunity and achieve the principles underpinning the scheme. Eligibility Applicants must meet all standard requirements for a taxi operator licence under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 and relevant Perth and Kinross licence eligibility criteria. In addition, the vehicle to be operated as a taxi must be: (1) Wheelchair accessible (2) No more than 12 years old; and (3) Compliant with current vehicle criteria. Prioritisation criteria To ensure that new entrants to the trade are given the greatest opportunity to participate, applications will be prioritised as follows: • First Priority (new entrants) Applicants who, at the time of consideration, do not currently hold a Perth City taxi operator licence and have no beneficial interest in any Perth City
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taxi operator licence (including shareholding/control/partnership) - one licence per applicant. • Second Priority (single plate operators) Should any licences remain after all eligible new entrants have been considered, applications from existing operators who hold exactly one Perth City taxi operator licence (no more than one beneficial interest in a licence) - one additional licence per applicant. • Third priority (others) If licences are still available, applications from other eligible parties will be considered. One additional licence per applicant per round until all 24 licences are allocated. Application Deadline and Processing Application Deadline • The application deadline will be advertised to ensure all interested parties have the opportunity to apply. Application Processing • The application process will be advertised alongside the advertisement of the application deadline. • Applications will be accepted electronically and in hard copy, with clear instructions on what requirements need to be met for valid submission. • Support will be available for those who require assistance. • Completed applications accompanied by the requisite fee will be processed in order of date/time received. • Incomplete applications or those without the requisite fee will be considered invalid and will not be processed. • Eligible applications will be processed in strict date/time order in line with the prioritisation criteria set out below until all 24 new licences have been allocated. • The application process will allow time for the applicant to secure a suitable vehicle and complete any outstanding requirements. If the applicant is unable to meet these requirements within a defined period, the application will be treated as withdrawn and the opportunity will be offered to the next eligible applicant. • Once granted standard substitution rules apply in relation to the vehicle subject to the requirement that substitutions must be a WAV. The Policy on Non-Transferability of New Taxi Operator Licences also will apply.
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Waiting List Once all 24 licences have been allocated, a waiting list will be established and maintained in date and time order. This list will be used to reallocate licences that are surrendered or revoked, ensuring continuity and fairness. Ongoing Review The allocation scheme and waiting list will be reviewed annually to ensure continued fairness, transparency, and alignment with the Council’s strategic objectives. Those who do not provide information in a timely way in connection with such reviews may be removed from the waiting list. It should be noted that this scheme does not prevent any applicant from making an application for an operator licence under the Act even once the limit of 24 further licences is reached. In line with legal requirements, any such application will be considered in the normal way and referred to the Licensing Committee for determination. In considering such applications, the Licensing Committee will consider whether a ground of refusal applies and, as part of this, will have regard to all relevant matters including the unmet demand survey and any other evidence about demand which may be available at the time.