Argyll and Bute Council is considering increasing taxi fares despite a low response rate from operators during a recent consultation.

Only eight out of 101 taxi operators across the region responded to the council's consultation on potential fare increases, which ran from October 24 to December 2.

Seven of the eight respondents requested an increase to the highest possible tariff, while one preferred to maintain current fares.

The council's planning, protective services and licensing committee will now review the current fare scales and consider proposals for new rates.

The committee will also determine a date for the proposed changes to come into effect, with 22 April being recommended.

Current fares in Argyll and Bute: tariff one (7am-10pm) is £3.45 for the first 860 yards, with an additional 23p, for every 176 yards. Tariff two (10pm-7am) is £4.14 with an additional 23p per 150 yards, and tariff three (public holidays) is £483 with an additional 23p per 120 yards.

The committee will further discuss the matter at its meeting on Wednesday, 18 December, before a final decision is made on 19 March.

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An unlicensed private hire driver operating in the Great Massingham area has been ordered to pay over £2,000 following an undercover investigation by West Norfolk Council after receiving a tip-off.

Kevin Turner was caught transporting undercover council officers on two separate occasions after they booked journeys with him.

Trips included travel from West Acre to Great Massingham and from Great Massingham to King's Lynn.

During a subsequent interview, Turner admitted to operating as a private hire driver without a licence, operating an unlicensed vehicle, and failing to properly insure his vehicle.

On 9 October, King's Lynn Magistrates' Court found Turner guilty in his absence of all charges.

He was fined £1,100 and ordered to pay an additional £990 in costs and surcharges. Turner also received eight penalty points on his driving licence.

Jim Moriarty, the borough council's cabinet member for licensing, stated: "This case highlights the importance of proper licensing for all taxi drivers to ensure the safety of the public.

"We will continue to investigate reports of unlicensed taxi operations and take appropriate action against offenders."

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Crawley Borough Council is exploring legal options over Uber drivers operating from Gatwick Airport without the proper local licences.

Taxi drivers licensed by the council, who operate within the borough including the airport, gathered outside the town hall on Wednesday evening, 11 December, to voice their frustrations and demand that more be done to enforce the borough’s licensing laws.

They claim that Uber cars registered in London are taking a significant portion of airport business, impacting their livelihoods.

Don Barnes, a local driver for Airport Cars and Unite branch secretary, stated that the issue has been ongoing since 2020, with a formal complaint filed with the council's licensing team in March of this year.

Cabinet member for public protection, Yasmin Khan, confirmed that an investigation was launched in June and is currently underway. The council is now seeking legal advice to determine the appropriate course of action.

While officials claim to have provided updates to Unite, Mr. Barnes refuted this claim.

The drivers conducted themselves well during the meeting – even though their mood may not have been helped by one councillor showing up to the town hall in an Uber.

One driver compared the situation at the airport as like "the wild west" and questioned the levels of health and safety being observed.

To applause from his colleagues, the driver said: “We’re all being let down – massively let down.”

Cllr Khan acknowledged the drivers' concerns and promised to follow up with the investigating officers.

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On 16 December 2024, the Government issued the English Devolution White Paper, announcing reforms which will have a significant impact on every council and community and setting out an Enhanced Devolution Framework.

This is what it says about our industry.

Taxi and Private Hire Vehicles:

• Taxis and private hire vehicles are an important part of our transport networks and some of the most vulnerable groups in our society rely on them.

• We recognise there are concerns about out-of-area working by private hire vehicles and are exploring how best to address these concerns.

• As part of this, we will consult on whether to make all Local Transport Authorities (including Strategic Authorities) responsible for taxi and private hire vehicle licensing.

• Administering taxi and private hire vehicle licensing across this larger footprint would increase the consistency of standards and enable more effective use of enforcement powers across a whole functional economic area.

• Greater economies of scale should also enable authorities to improve the efficiency of licensing, reducing the incentives for people to license out of their usual working area.

• This would be a significant change for the sector, and we will work with stakeholders to understand possible impacts before taking a final decision.

• In London, taxi and private hire vehicle licensing is already the responsibility of the Mayor and Transport for London.

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In a bid to alleviate traffic congestion in Belfast city centre, particularly during the busy Christmas period, Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd has announced a temporary measure allowing taxis to use certain bus lanes.

The Temporary Traffic Regulation will allow Class A and Class C taxis to use certain lanes, effective from 6am on Wednesday, 18 December.

Announcing the move on Tuesday, 17 December, Minister O’Dowd said: “I am committed to bringing forward measures which will help alleviate the traffic congestion in the city centre. I had previously announced my intention to introduce a pilot scheme to permit taxis to use city centre bus lanes to help support the industry and ease traffic.

“My officials are continuing to carry out the necessary legislative work and the consultation period for that scheme will commence very early in the new year. In the meantime, I have asked my officials to urgently introduce temporary traffic regulations, as an interim measure, to allow Class A and C taxis to use a number of bus lanes.

"DfI will continue to work closely with partners in the coming days and weeks. We all share a common goal of wanting to keep Belfast moving, while balancing the needs of everyone who needs to use the city’s roads and footpaths.”

Just last month, one of Belfast’s biggest taxi firms, Fonacab, called for bus lanes to be opened up for drivers in a bid to help ease ongoing traffic congestion.

The bus lanes included within the new regulations are:

Inbound towards the City Centre

• Shaftesbury Square

• Great Victoria Street (Shaftesbury Square – Grosvenor Road) 

Outbound Away from City Centre:

• Great Victoria Street (Howard Street – Bruce Street)

• Bruce Street

• Dublin Road

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