Item 6 - Taxi Fare Review - Clydebank Zone - January 2024
West Dunbartonshire Council · 16 January 2024
Back to Licensing Committee — 16 January 2024 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE COUNCIL Report by Chief Officer – Regulatory & Regeneration Licensing Committee – 16 January 2024 Subject: Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 Review of Taxi Fares and Charges Clydebank Taxi Licensing Zone 1. Purpose 1.1 To report to the Committee on the review of fares and charges applicable to taxis operating within the Clydebank Taxi Licensing Zone. 2. Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended:- (a) that the proposed changes to the current level of fares and charges applicable to the Clydebank Taxi Licensing Zone, submitted by the Clydebank Taxi Operators Group, be considered as follows:- increase the flagfall on Tariff One by 50p; increase the flagfall on Tariff Two by 50p; increase the flagfall on Tariff Three by 70p; increase the running mile by 10p on Tariff One; increase the running mile by 20p on Tariff Two; increase the running mile by 30p on Tariff Three; increase the period for waiting time from 10p for each 30 seconds (£12.00 per hour) to 10p for each 20 seconds (£18.00 per hour); change the period of time when Tariff 2 is applicable from 6.00 pm until Midnight on 24 December and 31 January to 6.00 am until Noon on 24 December and 31 January; change the period of time when Tariff 3 is applicable from Midnight on 24 December and 31 January to Noon on 24 December and 31 January; increase the amount where extra charges will apply for a taxi called by telephone or via App and not cancelled before arrival from £3.30 to £3.80; change the wording from ‘Taxi drivers may add on any charge incurred at Glasgow Airport
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when either dropping off or picking up passengers’ to ‘Taxi drivers may add on any charge incurred at any Airport or car park when either dropping off or picking up passengers’. (b) that the Committee review the existing scales for fares and other charges for the Clydebank Taxi Licensing Zone; (c) the Committee propose new scales; (d) that the Committee instructs officers to arrange for the advertisement of the fares and charges proposed by the Committee and review any representations received; and (e) that authority be delegated to the Chief Officer: Regulatory & Regeneration, in consultation with the Chair of the Licensing Committee, to conclude the review without the requirement for the Committee to consider a further report on the matter provided no representations are received in relation to the proposal. 3. Background 3.1 In terms of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, licensing authorities must fix scales for taxi fares and related charges within 18 months from the date on which the scales came into effect. 3.2 The fares and charges which are applicable to taxis operating within the Clydebank Taxi Licensing Zone have been in effect since 8 September 2022 and these are detailed at Appendix 1. 3.3 The Committee agreed at its meeting on 30 March 2022 to consult with the trade association, Clydebank Taxi Operators Group, when carrying out taxi fare reviews in Clydebank as opposed to individual taxi operators. 3.4 On 30 November 2023 a submission was received from Mr. Kenneth McSheaffrey, Secretary of the Clydebank Taxi Operators Group, proposing amendments to the existing fare chart. 4. Main Issues 4.1 This Report details the outcome of the consultation with Clydebank Taxi Operators Group. The Committee must now review the existing scales and propose new scales. The proposed scales will then be subject to public consultation with an advert being published in a newspaper circulating in the Clydebank area. Any person can make representations to the Licensing Committee about the proposed scales. Should any representations be received then they will be considered at a future meeting of the Licensing Committee. Members may wish to note that officers will write to holders of taxi licences to
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advise them of the public consultation. 4.2 The Committee must have regard to the costs incurred by the trade. Having referred to the AA website which provides an average cost of fuel on a monthly basis for Scotland, it shows that in November 2023 the average cost of unleaded fuel was 149.5p per litre and 157.8p per litre for diesel. At the time when the last fare chart became effective in September 2022, the average cost of fuel in Scotland was 163.8p for unleaded petrol and 182.0p for diesel. This represents a decrease of 8.7% for unleaded fuel and 13.3% for diesel based on the difference in price when comparing the figures between September 2022 and November 2023. Officers are further aware that taxi operators continue to face rising costs relating to, but not limited to, the purchasing and maintenance of taxi vehicles owing to inflation and supply chain issues. 4.3 The submission from the Clydebank Taxi Operators Group when suggesting an increase in fares cites a downturn in revenue, rising fuel costs, higher insurance premiums and increasing costs for parts and labour as on-going concerns affecting the trade as well as the rate of inflation and the cost of living crisis. 4.4 The last fare review resulted in the implementation of an updated fare chart for the Clydebank zone the effect of which saw the charge on the flagfall for each tariff rise by 30p and a rise of 10p on the running mile on all tariffs. 4.5 Referring to 2.1 (e) of this Report, should no representations be received in relation to the proposals, in order to expedite matters, it is suggested that authority be delegated to the Chief Officer: Regulatory and Regeneration in consultation with the Chair of the Licensing Committee to conclude the review without the requirement for the Committee to consider a further report. 5. People Implications 5.1 There are no personnel issues for the Council arising from this report. 6. Financial Implications 6.1 There are no financial implications for the Council arising from this report. 7. Risk Analysis 7.1 There is no increased risk to the Council associated with the contents of this report. 8. Equalities Impact Assessment (EIA) 8.1 No impact assessment is required because this report does not involve any change to policies or services or financial decisions. 9. Consultation 9.1 There are statutory requirements around consultation. As noted at paragraph 3.3
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of this Report, the Committee agreed consult with the trade association. The submission received from the Clydebank Taxi Operators Group was in response to consultation with their members at a recent meeting of their organisation held on 22 November 2023. 9.2 The proposed scales, once agreed by the Committee, will be subject of a public consultation. Chief Officer: Regulatory and Regeneration Date 18 December 2023 Person to Contact: Robert Mackie, Senior Officer (Licensing Services), Licensing Team, Municipal Buildings, College Street, Dumbarton, G82 1NR. Tel. No. (Direct line) 01389 738742. robert.mackie@west-dunbarton.gov.uk Appendices 1. Current Fare Chart for Clydebank Taxi Licensing Zone. 2. Email from Mr. Kenneth McSheaffrey, Secretary of Clydebank Taxi Operator’s Group dated 30 November 2023. 3. Proposed Fare Chart for Clydebank Taxi Licensing Zone.