Taxi drivers in Glasgow to add surcharge due to high fuel costs

Taxi drivers in Glasgow are set to be able to add a surcharge to hires for three months due to high fuel costs.

The city’s licensing committee has agreed to propose the extra fee following an independent review of the taxi fare scales.

A 25p fuel surcharge and other changes to the scales will be open to representations once a public notice is published.

Other plans include increasing the soiling charge from £47.50 to £48 and changing the flag fall charge from a distance not exceeding 880 yards to a distance not exceeding 867 yards, or a time not exceeding 165 seconds to a time not exceeding 163 seconds.

The independent review, carried out by Dr James Cooper, found the cost of operating a taxi in Glasgow has increased by 1.31% between March last year and February.

His report added there had been a “significant fluctuation” in the cost of fuel since then. It recommended a surcharge of 25p.

“It is noted that fuel surcharges are, by their nature, a temporary measure intended to alleviate a short-term spike in specific operating costs, rather than a long term measure integral to the tariff itself,” the report added.

“We therefore recommend that the fuel surcharge be applied for no longer than three months, though this does not exclude the possibility of its renewal where fuel costs do not stabilise.”

A representative from Glasgow Taxi Owners Federation argued the consumer price index (CPI) figure for the review period was 5% so 1.31% falls short of keeping up with the economic climate.

He also said the council had carried out inappropriate consultation on the changes.

Dr Cooper said CPI or general inflation do not reflect actual taxi operator costs, with an industrial price index, or taxi cost index, used instead.

His report stated consultation was held with operators “represented by taxi representative organisations”, and a survey was undertaken resulting in 90 responses.

The flag fall, the initial charge. will remain at £4.50 and the distance and time charges will stay at an increment of 30p.

Each additional increment is expected to be changed from a distance not exceeding 174 yards to a distance not exceeding 172 yards, or 37 seconds to 36 seconds.

Councillors agreed to the changes proposed by Cooper’s report, with a limited-term fuel surcharge for a period of three months from the date the tariff comes into effect.

An official said the tariff will be put out for public notice and there is “a chance for representations to be lodged”.