Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982: Taxi Fare Scale Review
Argyll and Bute Council · 19 August 2026
Back to Planning, Protective Services and Licensing Committee — 19 August 2026 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL PLANNING, PROTECTIVE SERVICES AND LICENSING COMMITTEE LEGAL AND REGULATORY SUPPORT 19 AUGUST 2026 CIVIC GOVERNMENT (SCOTLAND) ACT 1982 TAXI FARE SCALE REVIEW 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In terms of Section 17 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, the Local Authority requires to fix maximum fares and other charges in connection with the hire of taxis operating in their area and to review the scales for taxi fares and other charges on a regular basis. The fares were last reviewed by members on 18th December 2024 and took effect on 22nd April 2025. The current maximum fares are: Tariff 1 £3.80 (hiring between 7am and 10pm) Initial charge (860 yards or part thereof) Subsequent charge (each 176 yards or part thereof) @ 25p Tariff 2 £4.55 (hiring between 10pm and 7am) Initial charge (860 yards or part thereof) Subsequent charge (each 150 yards or part thereof) @ 25p Tariff 3 £5.31 (public holidays) Initial charge (860 yards or part thereof) Subsequent charge (each 120 yards or part thereof) @25p Charges in respect of soiling, waiting and telephone bookings are £100 (maximum), 45p per minute and 40p respectively. 1.1 At their meeting on 17th June 2026 members proposed to increase the maximum fares by 5%. The effect of a 5% increase is shown below: Tariff 1 £3.99 (hiring between 7am and 10pm) Initial charge (860 yards or part thereof) Subsequent charge (each 176 yards or part thereof) @ 26p Tariff 2 £4.78 (hiring between 10pm and 7am) Initial charge (860 yards or part thereof)
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Subsequent charge (each 150 yards or part thereof) @ 26p Tariff 3 £5.58 (public holidays) Initial charge (860 yards or part thereof) Subsequent charge (each 120 yards or part thereof) @26p Charges in respect of soiling, waiting and telephone bookings are £100 (maximum), 47p per minute and 42p respectively. Adverts detailing the 5% increase were placed in the local press week commencing 22 June 2026 with any representations in respect of these proposals to be made by 27 July 2026. In carrying out a review, the licensing authority must consider any such representations. 1.2 One representation was received on 29 June 2026. Members require to consider this representation prior to fixing the scales. This is attached in Appendix 1. 2.0 RECOMMENDATIONS The Committee are asked whether they wish to: • Proceed with the 5% increase as previously proposed at their meeting on 17 June 2026 as detailed in Appendix 2. OR • Amend the proposal as per the one representation received from the trade. If members agree to propose a further amendment to the scales members are asked to authorise the Head of Legal and Regulatory Support to advertise the proposed changes to tariffs and to invite any responses within one month of the advertisement and report back to members at their meeting in October. • If members resolve to amend the proposal and re-advertise the amended scales, and no objections or representations are received in response to that advertisement, delegate authority to the Head of Legal and Regulatory Support in consultation with the Chair of PPSL to conclude the review without the requirement for the Committee to consider a further report on the review.
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL PLANNING, PROTECTIVE SERVICES AND LICENSING COMMITTEE LEGAL AND REGULATORY SUPPORT 19 AUGUST 2026 CIVIC GOVERNMENT (SCOTLAND) ACT 1982 TAXI FARE SCALE REVIEW 1. 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 2. SUMMARY In terms of Section 17 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, the Local Authority requires to fix maximum fares and other charges in connection with the hire of taxis operating in their area and to review the scales for taxi fares and other charges on a regular basis. The fares were last reviewed by members on 18th December 2024 and took effect on 22nd April 2025. The Committee at their meeting on 17 June 2026 proposed to increase the maximum fares by 5% as detailed in Appendix 2. Adverts detailing the 5% increase were placed in the local press week commencing 22 June 2026 with any representations in respect of these proposals to be made by 27 July 2026. In carrying out a review, the licensing authority must consider any such representations. One representation was received on 29 June 2026. Members require to consider this representation prior to fixing the scales. RECOMMENDATIONS The Committee are asked whether they wish to: • Proceed with the 5% increase as previously proposed at their meeting on 17 June 2026 as detailed in Appendix 2. OR • Amend the proposal as per the one representation received from the trade. If members agree to propose a further amendment to the scales members are asked to authorise the Head of Legal and Regulatory Support to advertise the proposed changes to tariffs and to invite any
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3. 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 responses within one month of the advertisement and report back to members at their meeting in October 2026. • If members resolve to amend the proposal and re-advertise the amended scales, and no objections or representations are received in response to that advertisement, delegate authority to the Head of Legal and Regulatory Support in consultation with the Chair of PPSL to conclude the review without the requirement for the Committee to consider a further report on the review. DETAIL Following the adverts in the local press week commencing 22 June 2026, no representations have been received from members of the public. One response was received by a member of the trade. This is attached in Appendix 1. Following consideration of the representation on the proposal if Members agree to proceed with the 5 % increase on the fares and other charges as detailed in Appendix 2 as proposed by the Committee at their meeting on 17th June 2026 a letter will be issued to all operators detailing the committee’s final decision on 19 August 2026. There is a right of appeal to the Scottish Traffic Commissioner by any person or any persons or organisations appearing to the Traffic Commissioner to be representative of taxi operators. Any appeal has to be lodged within a 14 day period of notification of the decision. If no appeal is lodged the new scales will be advertised in the local press as required by the Act. If Members agree to amend the proposal to amend the scales as proposed by the one representation there would be a requirement to re-advertise the proposal and report back to members on any representations received. This would delay the commencement date for the new fare tariff. 4. 4.1 4.2 CONCLUSION Members are further advised that an advert will be placed in the local press following their decision if it is agreed to fix the scales as originally proposed. This will still enable the fares to come into force by 22nd of October 2026 as previously agreed. If members agree to amend their proposal as requested by the one representation received then this proposal would need to be advertised week commencing 24th August 2026 with a 28 day period for
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representations. A further report would require to be placed before members if any representations were received. IMPLICATIONS 5.1 Policy- None 5.2 Financial -none 5.3 Legal – The Council require to review taxi fares in terms of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 5.4 HR -none 5.5 Customer Service-none 5.6 Risk- none 5.7 Climate Change- none 5.8 Fairer Scotland Duty- none 5.9 Equalities - protected characteristics-none 5.10 Consumer Duty- none 5.11 Island Communities- none 5.12 Children’s Rights and Wellbeing- none Douglas Hendry Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support Policy Lead: Cllr Gordon Blair For further information contact: David Walker, Solicitor Tel: 01436 658720 Email : david.walker@argyll-bute.gov.uk
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APPENDIX 1 The following objection was received from an operator in the Cowal area:
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APPENDIX 2 Tariff 1 Hirings from ranks or “flag” Hiring between 7am and 10pm Initial charge (860 yards or part thereof) Subsequent charge (each 176 yards or part thereof) (general effect is an increase of 5% = 19p and 1p) £3.99 26 pence Tariff 2 Hirings from ranks or “flag” Hiring between 10pm and 7am Initial charge (860 yards or part thereof) Subsequent charge (each 150 yards or part thereof) £4.78 26 pence Tariff 2 also applies to hirings from ranks or “flag” between 6pm and 10pm December 24th, 6pm and 10pm December 31st and between 7am 2nd January and 7am 3rd January (general effect is an increase of 5% = 23p and 1p) Tariff 3 Hiring from ranks or “flag” between 10pm 24th December and 7am 27th December and between 10pm 31st December and 7am 2nd January Initial Charge (860 yards or part thereof) Subsequent Charge (each 120 yards or part thereof) (general effect is an increase of 5% = 27p and 1p) £5.58 26 pence Soiling Charge - £100 maximum (with permission to display warning signs indicating that there may be an additional charge for any potential loss of earnings suffered as a consequence) Waiting Time – 47 pence per minute commencement of journey, charged on a pro rata basis per second (general effect is an increase of 2p) Taxi called by mean of telephone – 42 pence additional charge (general effect is an increase of 2p) Large Mini-bus type vehicle (carrying 5 or more passengers together at their own request)- a) Where Tariff 1 would apply – charge Tariff 2 b) Where Tariff 2 would apply – charge Tariff 3 c) Where Tariff 3 would apply – surcharge £1.37 (general effect is an increase of 7p) Fee by negotiation – for all journeys commencing within but finishing outwith Argyll and Bute, in a place of the above charges, such fares may be charged as prior to the acceptance of the hire, were proposed to the hirer and accepted by him/her Ferry Fares – The hirer shall be liable for the cost of a return ferry fare for any journey involving a ferry