GLASGOW: extension to night-time taxi charges proposed
An extra £1.50 could be charged from 9pm instead of 11pm
Night-time taxi charges in Glasgow are set to be extended by two hours and an almost 10% rise in fares is planned.
The move — which will allow an extra £1.50 to be charged from 9pm rather than 11pm — has been proposed in the hope of boosting the supply of taxis in the evenings.
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.
What does it all mean?
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 — could rise from £2.50 to £2.70.
Currently, these charges only apply on December 25 and 26 and January 1 and 2.
More taxis
Robert McLean, of Glasgow Taxis, said the public “rely heavily on taxis to get back out of the city” at night-time. He would “encourage” an increase of the night-time charge from £1.50 to £3 to improve the availability of taxis.
Glasgow’s licensing committee agreed to propose a 9.72% rise to the rates, which will now be open to representations before going back in front of councillors for a final decision.
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 are also expected to be changed from 886 yards to 889 yards and 166 seconds to 167 seconds.
Each additional increment could 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 would remain at an increment of 30p.
Dr Cooper concluded there had been a 9.72% increase in “the cost of operating a taxi in Glasgow”.
Increased costs
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 has 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.
Dr Cooper’s report stated: “Socio-economic benefits arise from the support of night time industry, with additional safety benefits in encouraging taxi supply to get people home after partying.
“While the decline in the number of drivers within the trade has had an impact and is likely to continue to reduce the active supply at points of key demand – a decrease in the number of vehicles within the fleet can have the impact of refocusing supply away from the least attractive times of day.
“It is noted that evening, family, and night time cusp participation in city activities can and likely will continue to be affected by declining supply.
“We have therefore proposed an update to the measurement of night time supplements.”
Consultation on the plans has been held with the trade and 325 responses were received.