Post by acnedriver on Nov 30, 2022 6:37:42 GMT
Highland licensing committee has agreed to increase taxi fares by 20%, effective from 13 February 2023.
It followed a lively debate in which Inverness Taxi Alliance (ITA) said the rise is not justified.
While the ITA said their members don’t support a 20% increase, Highland Council officers said the review takes account of steep hikes in operating costs and fuel.
Members expressed their disappointment that only Inverness taxi operators made their case in the chamber.
Councillor Duncan Macpherson highlighted that licensing committee is for all of Highland, not just Inverness. He said the 20% proposal was reasonable and fair.
The issue went to a vote, with members voting nine to three in favour of the 20% hike.
Following today’s decision, each tariff on the taxi fare will increase by up to 20%. This reflects the maximum that operators can charge, though they can choose to charge less.
Highland councillors also agreed to increase the cleaning charge to £150 and allow operators to charge £5 for bulky items that won’t fit in the boot (excluding wheelchairs and mobility aids).
The taxi fares review was brought forward at the specific request of some operators. They wrote to Highland Council asking them to make an early decision because of the increased costs of running their business.
Highland Council’s principal solicitor, Claire McArthur, said the 20% proposal reflects data from the consumer price index.
This showed the cost of buying a new vehicle has increased by 8%, and 22% for second-hand. Repairs and maintenance cost around 8% more and petrol and diesel are up by 58% and 59% respectively. This has since reduced a bit to 38% and 45%.
An initial survey of 93 operators showed that 95% supported a fare increase.
www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/5098732/taxi-fares-hiked-up-20-but-some-inverness-operators-say-they-dont-want-it/
It followed a lively debate in which Inverness Taxi Alliance (ITA) said the rise is not justified.
While the ITA said their members don’t support a 20% increase, Highland Council officers said the review takes account of steep hikes in operating costs and fuel.
Members expressed their disappointment that only Inverness taxi operators made their case in the chamber.
Councillor Duncan Macpherson highlighted that licensing committee is for all of Highland, not just Inverness. He said the 20% proposal was reasonable and fair.
The issue went to a vote, with members voting nine to three in favour of the 20% hike.
Following today’s decision, each tariff on the taxi fare will increase by up to 20%. This reflects the maximum that operators can charge, though they can choose to charge less.
Highland councillors also agreed to increase the cleaning charge to £150 and allow operators to charge £5 for bulky items that won’t fit in the boot (excluding wheelchairs and mobility aids).
The taxi fares review was brought forward at the specific request of some operators. They wrote to Highland Council asking them to make an early decision because of the increased costs of running their business.
Highland Council’s principal solicitor, Claire McArthur, said the 20% proposal reflects data from the consumer price index.
This showed the cost of buying a new vehicle has increased by 8%, and 22% for second-hand. Repairs and maintenance cost around 8% more and petrol and diesel are up by 58% and 59% respectively. This has since reduced a bit to 38% and 45%.
An initial survey of 93 operators showed that 95% supported a fare increase.
www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/5098732/taxi-fares-hiked-up-20-but-some-inverness-operators-say-they-dont-want-it/