Glasgow taxi fares set to rise 10% after committee approval

Plans to raise taxi fares in Glasgow by almost 10% and extend night-time charges by two hours have been approved.

The city’s licensing committee agreed to the changes – which will apply from Monday, September 23 if there is no appeal – at a meeting on Wednesday.

They will see a 9.72% increase to the rates and an update which will allow an extra £1.50 to be charged from 9pm rather than 11pm.

When the changes were first proposed, it was suggested they could boost the supply of taxis in the evenings.

There will be:

An increase in the minimum charge flag fall from £4 to £4.40
A rise in the additional night-time charge from £1.40 to £1.50
A change in the night-time hours from 11pm to 6am to 9pm to 6am
An uplift in the soiling charge from £42 to £46

Additional Christmas and New Year charges – between 9pm on December 24 and 6am on December 27 and 9pm on December 31 and 6am on January 3 – will rise from £2.50 to £2.70. These charges have previously only applied on December 25 and 26 and January 1 and 2.

Changes were recommended to Glasgow City Council in an independent report by Dr James Cooper, who assessed production costs – including fuel, vehicle and insurance fees – for drivers between September 2022 and February this year.

They were initially proposed by the committee in June and a public notice was issued. Officials then reported representations could be received by Friday, July 19, but none were made.

An appeal against the decision can be lodged with the traffic commissioner for the Scottish traffic area by anyone who operates a taxi in the city.

If an appeal was submitted, the decision would be suspended until “such time as the appeal was dismissed, determined or abandoned”, council officials reported.

Consultation on the proposals was held with the trade and 325 responses were received.

At a meeting in June, Robert McLean, of Glasgow Taxis, said the public “rely heavily on taxis to get back out of the city” at night-time. He suggested an increase of the night-time charge from £1.50 to £3 to improve the availability of taxis.

Last year, an increase of 19.36% was agreed following a previous review. It came into effect in April 2023.

Under the latest plans, the flag fall distance and time will change from 886 yards to 889 yards and 166 seconds to 167 seconds.

Each additional increment will change from a distance not exceeding 196 yards to 179 yards and the time changed from 42 seconds to 38 seconds. However, the distance and time charge remains at an increment of 30p.

Dr Cooper concluded there had been a 9.72% increase in “the cost of operating a taxi in Glasgow”. His research considered a range of factors including fuel costs, vehicle purchase and maintenance expenditure, insurance and licence fees and the costs of Low Emission Zone compliance.

A council report stated Glasgow Taxis believe the 10p increase in the night-shift flag fall would “not be effective”. The firm wants to see it rise to £3 at nights and £5 over Christmas and New Year holidays.

It also suggested the night-time charges should stop at 5am rather than 6am as to “not penalise” workers who start early.

Glasgow Taxis Owners Federation suggested the night charge should be changed to £2, and wants extra charges per person after two passengers.