Highland Taxi Operators Want 15 to 20% increase in fares but delayed by council requirements to hold consultations

20th June 2022

Highland Council Licensing Committee agreed today 20 June 2022 to an early review of taxi tariffs that could see a 15 and 20 per cent fare increase.

Taxi operators want increases to offset the inflation and increased fuel costs recently.

Representations from the taxi trade.

Two individual requests have been received from taxi operators asking for an urgent review of the taxi tariff scales. One request was received from a Thurso based operator and another from an Inverness based operator on behalf of a number of operators. The requests for an early review have been made mainly for the following reasons:
• Increasing cost of fuel
• Increasing cost of replacing a vehicle
• Shortage of drivers

Reviews are normally every 18 months but can be done sooner. It is likely still to take 6 months. The process includes a consultation with the trade, review fare scales, suggest new fare scales, notify the public on the proposals, setting timescales for the fare introduction and calling on further representations and considering them.

The debate at the licencing committee can be seen at
Highland licensing - Agenda item 8.
https://highland.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/673298