Licensed Taxi and Private Hire Car (Where fitted with Taxi Meter) Fare Structure
We Asked
Your views on the licensed taxi and private hire car (where fitted with a taxi meter) fare structure and whether there should be any change in the taxi fares for the Western Isles. This includes an opportunity for taxi and private hire car operators to give any detailed responses in respect of the fares.
You Said
CNES received 8 responses to the initial consultation.
7 responses were from taxi operators who wished the fares to remain unchanged.
1 response was from taxi operators who wished for the fares to be increased.
After further consultation, with notice in a local newspaper giving the operators the opportunity to make representations to the agreed proposal to increase fares, no further comments were received from the consultees.
We Did
CNES considered all responses to the consultations at all of the various stages of the process. Following no representations being received to the final consultation, CNES approved the revised taxi fare structure, which took effect from 05 September 2022.
We Did Not Do
This is not applicable as CNES followed the correct procedures as required under Section 17 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 whereby CNES is required to carry out a periodic review of taxi and private hire car fares.
- Contact Us
- Iain Smith
- iain.smith@cne-siar.gov.uk
-
Licensing Office
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Council Offices
Chief Executive’s Department
Sandwick Road
Stornoway
Isle of Lewis
HS1 2BW
Equalities Monitoring
Please complete our Equalities Monitoring Form:
This is used by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar to provide essential statistical information about who participates in our consultations.
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Overview
It is the duty of a licensing authority to set from time to time the scales for fares and other related charges for the hire of taxis, and to review these scales at intervals not exceeding 18 months, in terms of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982. In terms of the Act, before the licensing authority carries out any review, it requires to consult with persons or organisations who appear to be, or be representative of, the operators of taxis operating within their area, and to advertise its intentions with regard to the review giving persons one month to make representations thereon, and further to consider any such representations duly made.
Why We Are Consulting
In terms of the statutory duty detailed above to review fares on a periodic basis, the Chief Executive has carried out the initial consultation required.
In reviewing taxi fares, Members were invited to consider the responses received and determined the level of fares to propose in the public advertisement, which are shown below;
Maximum Fares by Distance and Time:
Tariff 1
- For the first 1320 yards (3/4 mile) or part thereof - £4.00
- For each additional 440 yards (1/4 mile) - £0.60
- For each minute of waiting time or part thereof - £0.45
Tariff 2
- Surcharge on all rates if hire is between 9pm and 7am from Monday to Thursday - 25%
- Surcharge on all rates if hire is between 9pm on Friday and 7am on Monday - 25%
- Surcharge on all rates on public holidays determined by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar - 25%
Tariff 3
- Surcharge on all rates on hiring 25/26 December and 1/2 January - 50%
Extras
- Cleaning charge (in the event of a passenger fouling the Taxi/private hire car) - £50
- When carrying 5 or more passengers the normal start off rate will be tariff 2.
- When carrying 5 or more passengers between midnight and 7am Monday to Thursday, between midnight on Friday and 7am on Monday and public holidays including 25 and 26 December and 1 and 2 January, tariff 3 will apply.
- A supplementary booking charge of up to £6.50 can be charged to compensate for the cost of the outward journey for hires which commence 3 miles or more away from the taxi or taxi base (whichever is the nearer) and the customer wishes to travel further away. This charge would only be demanded if the customer is informed of the amount of the charge at the time of booking.
This new consultation is the next step in the process of reviewing the fare structure.
What Happens Next
The Comhairle’s proposal is being advertised formally and any representations received will be reported back and considered by elected members. In the event that no representations are received in relation to the advertised proposal, the Comhairle will set the revised taxi fare structure with an intended effective date of 5 September 2022 or, if representations are received and the matter has to go back to Committee, will authorise a later effective date.