Technical Notes 2024, Issue 128 - Taxi Fares Review

1. The Purpose of this Technical Note is to update Members in relation to proposals for a Taxi fare review.
    
2. Members may be aware that the Council is required, in terms of section 17 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 to fix a table of fees setting out the maximum fares and all other charges which can be made in connection with the hire of a taxi in its area.  In addition, the Council is required to conduct a regular review of these rates. 
    
3. In order to support the taxi trade, it is proposed to shortly commence a review of taxi fares and charges in East Dunbartonshire. 
    
4. On 8th December 2022, the Council introduced new taxi fares which increased all tariffs that taxi operators could charge passengers.  The current tariffs are set out as Appendix 1 to this Technical Note.
    
5. Since the fare review in 2022, the Council has introduced increased application fees for both operators and drivers’ licences.  In addition, it appears that licence holders continue to face increased inflationary costs including insurance, fuel and vehicle costs.  Accordingly, following representations from the Trade, Officers propose to carry out a further review of fares as follows:

• There will be an initial period of consultation undertaken with the taxi trade, including representatives of the trade.  This is not a period of public consultation, and the purpose of it is to allow the members of the trade to propose fares and charges to the Council as Licensing Authority.  There is no fixed period prescribed in the legislation for the initial consultation period.  It is proposed that a period of two months is allowed for this, and it will commence shortly.  It is acknowledged that the taxi trade may require this period to be extended.  If so, officers will consider any reasonable requests to do so.
   
• Following this initial consultation, officers will review the existing scales and propose new scales.  The proposed new scales may either be different to the existing scales or at the same rates.  It is anticipated that, if the initial consultation period does not require to be extended by the taxi trade, a report on the proposed new scales will be presented to Members for consideration at the next Policy and Resources Committee. 
   
• Once the proposed new scales have been determined by the Policy & Resources Committee, there will be a further period of public consultation.  The proposed consultation period is one month (which is the statutory minimum period).  During the public consultation period the following information will be published in local newspapers and on the Council’s website: the proposed scales; the effect of the proposed new scales; the date when the proposed new scales will come in to effect and the date by which any person may make representations in writing.  It is likely that the public consultation period will end around late autumn 2024.
   
• If no representations are received or if all representations are supportive of the proposed scales, the Council, as Licensing Authority will put them into effect.  Officers will notify all taxi operators in the area and those persons consulted during the initial consultation period of the new scales and of their right to appeal to the Traffic Commissioner.  This will be subject to Members agreement at the preceding Policy and Resources Committee.
   
• If representations are received which do not support the proposed new scales, these will be presented in a report to the Policy & Resources Committee to allow it to decide the final scales.  The timing of this report, if required, will be dependent on the Council Diary to be considered by Council at its meeting on 21st August.  Thereafter notice of the new scales will be given to taxi operators and those consulted during the initial consultation period, as above.

6. Following the initial consultation with the taxi trade, Officers will bring a report to the Policy & Resources Committee with the outcome of the consultation and proposed scales.  The report will also provide details of anticipated timescales in line with the above.

APPENDIX 1

TARIFF (1) Applicable between the hours of 6.00 am and midnight.

MINIMUM FARE for a distance not exceeding 880 yards or for time not exceeding 3 minutes 3 seconds.

(or a combination of parts of such distance and such time)                
£2.50

For each additional distance of 186 yards
£0.20

Fares for waiting:-

For each completed period of 44 seconds 
£0.20

Note: The above rates include for engagement of the taxi at any point within Zone 1 of East Dunbartonshire.

Waiting begins from the time of arrival of the taxi at the place of engagement.

Engagement of the taxi at a point outwith Zone 1 of East Dunbartonshire shall be the subject of special agreement.

Fares by time:

Fares by time must be the subject of special agreement with the hirer.

TARIFF (2) Applicable between the hours of midnight and 6.00am

MINIMUM FARE for a distance not exceeding 880 yards or for time not exceeding 3 minutes 3 seconds.

(or a combination of parts of such distance and such time)                
£4.30

For each additional distance of 186 yards                                              
0.20

Fares for waiting:-  For each completed period of 44 seconds        
£0.20

TARIFF (3) Applicable between the hours of 6.00pm and midnight on 24 December and 31 December

 and the hours of 6.00am and midnight on 25 and 26 December and 1 and 2 January.

MINIMUM FARE for a distance not exceeding 880 yards or for time not exceeding 3 minutes 3 seconds.

(or a combination of parts of such distance and such time)                
£4.50

For each additional distance of 186 yards                                              
£0.20

Fares for waiting:-

For each completed period of 44 seconds                                             
£0.20

TARIFF (4) Applicable between the hours of midnight and 6.00am on 25 and 26 December and 1 and 2 January

MINIMUM FARE for a distance not exceeding 880 yards or for time not exceeding 3 minutes 3 seconds.

(or a combination of parts of such distance and such time)                
£6.30

For each additional distance of 186 yards                                              
£0.20

Fares for waiting:-  For each completed period of 44 seconds        
£0.20

EXTRA CHARGES:

A charge of £1.00 shall be payable for a taxi called by telephone but not used

• Luggage not exceeding 56lbs in weight shall be carried free.
• A charge of 20p shall be payable for luggage exceeding 56lbs in weight.

Soiling Charge: £25.00