East Renfrewshire taxi fares to rise to help drivers struggling with cost of living

Taxi fares in East Renfrewshire are set to rise as councillors hope to help drivers struggling amid the cost of living crisis.

A 10% increase in the taxi fares in the area was proposed by the council’s licensing committee last week.

It would see the cost for a distance not exceeding 1173 yards rise from £4.40 to £4.80, for journeys between 5am and 10pm. Each additional 150 yards — currently 160 — or waiting time of 33 seconds would be charged at 20p.

Between 10pm and 5am, the initial fee would increase from £5.40 to £5.80, with each additional 150 yards, or waiting time of 33 seconds, costing 20pm.

Councillors previously reviewed the scales in June last year, when they agreed to freeze the fares at the level set in December 2023. At that time, the committee decided the scales would be further reviewed within a year.

The changes, which would only apply to taxis and not to private hires, could see the initial cost for a distance not exceeding 1173 yards on Friday and Saturday nights, between 10pm and 5am, rise from £6.40 to £7.

Prices for journeys over the Christmas and New Year period could also be increased under the proposals.

A letter from trade representatives, which had 21 signatures, requested the increase. Cllr Paul Edlin, Conservative, the committee chair, said: “I think inflation has gone up more than 10% in three years. I think that’s a fair comment.”

He added: “It is very important that, as well as serving the public, taxi drivers have to be remunerated fairly.”

A council report stated: “In the past year, there has been a continuing impact on drivers, licence holders and the wider public, in terms of the cost of living crisis.

“Factors such as the energy price increase, the various world conflicts etc are all having undesirable effects on the trade, particularly in relation to fuel hikes.”

It added: “Private Hire & Taxi Monthly magazine maintains a league table showing the level of taxi fares applying in all UK local authority areas.

“At present, East Renfrewshire is 165th out of 341 authorities and sits mid-priced in terms of all the Scottish local authority areas, sitting 14th out of the 32 Scottish local authority areas.”

Cllr David Macdonald said increases should be “at a minimum in line with inflation every year”.

“We can’t have any raises that are below inflation, I feel, in order to support the trade,” he said. “The trade is suffering like everybody else is suffering.”

He suggested allowing drivers to “charge a fuel surcharge on top of their regular charges” due to the cost of fuel at the moment, adding: “If these fuel prices don’t go down, it’s going to really put an impact on a lot of drivers, I feel.”

An official said the drivers aren’t asking for a surcharge at the moment, but they “can come back and ask for that at a later date, should they so wish”.

Cllr Andrew Morrison, Conservative, said: “When we last reviewed this fare structure, there was obviously the cost of living prices, notwithstanding that the trade did identify that they wished to keep prices at the same level to remain competitive.”

He added it “seems to me that this is a reasonable juncture for a reasonable increase” as the drivers are “facing a cost of living crisis as well, the same as everyone else”.

The proposed scales must be “published in a newspaper circulating in this area with an explanation of their effect and an indication of the proposed date on which they are to come into effect”.

Written representations may be made in response to the proposals. The committee will have to consider any representations before finalising the scales.