Taxi fares increase proposed as drivers call for higher night charges
Glasgow taxi fares could rise by over 3% while the soiling charge—paid when a car needs to be taken off the road for cleaning—is also set to go up.
An independent review of the city's taxi fares has proposed a 3.32% increase, with the minimum charge flag fall set to rise from £4.40 to £4.50.
Some trade representatives want a higher night charge and extra charges when more than two people travel.
They also disagree with the review's findings that insurance costs have decreased, saying drivers are reporting rises.
The changes were recommended after the review concluded that the 'costs of operating a tax in Glasgow, the production costs, have increased.'
Under the proposals, the flag fall distance and time would change from 889 yards to 880 yards and 167 seconds to 165 seconds.
Each additional increment could change from a distance not exceeding 179 yards to a distance not exceeding 174 yards and the time changed from 38 seconds to 37 seconds.
However, the distance and time charge would remain at an increment of 30p. It is recommended the soiling charge is lifted from £46 to £47.
The additional charge for hires after 9pm and before 6am would remain at £1.50 and the extra charge for hires between 9pm on December 24 and 6am on December 27 and 9pm on December 31 and 6am on January 3 would stay at £2.70 if councillors accept the recommendations on Wednesday.
The review of the taxi fare scales has been carried out by Dr James Cooper. The last review proposed an increase of 9.72%, which came into effect in September last year.
Glasgow Taxi Owners Federation wants extra charges for additional passengers, beyond two, and an increased night charge of £2 rather than £1.50 to 'encourage night working'.
It also disputes some of the figures used by Dr Cooper in his calculations, including for insurance, radio dispatch and vehicle purchases.
Dr Cooper's report notes that 'insurance costs have declined over the period of review' but this 'follows a significant increase in the previous period'.
However, Unite the union Glasgow cab section has said it has surveyed members and 'not one has reported a reduction' in insurance costs, with an average increase of around 8% instead.
The union also said radio dispatch costs have increased, and high new vehicle costs, plus the removal of some grants, are 'creating financial barriers'.
It added: 'The council list of approved vehicles needs to be reviewed, as the dependence on local suppliers is preventing competitiveness, as more cost-effective vehicles are now available across the UK'.
Unite called for clarity over previous charges to the night and Christmas/New Year charges, which it said has caused 'confusion'.
It questioned whether the £2.70 extra Christmas/New Year rate is on top of the current £1.50 night rate.
A council report stated Glasgow Taxis believes the review is 'in line with their thinking and are satisfied that it represents a true picture of the trade'.
All trade bodies will be able to address the licensing committee on Wednesday before making any decisions.
Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Wine shortage to hit UK this summer as all major supermarkets could be affected
Over 200 Unite members at the Encirc site in Avonmouth, Bristol, are set to strike between June 19 and July 5 - with the company supplying all UK major supermarkets with wine Brits have been warned supermarket shelves could be left empty of wine this summer, as factory workers at a major bottling company are planning to strike. Over 200 Unite members at the Encirc site in Avonmouth, Bristol, are set to strike over pay and collective bargaining between June 19 and July 5. Members at the factory work across different areas, including bottling and packaging red, white, rose and sparkling wine and distributing it from warehouses. The company supplies all the major supermarkets with wine, which is the most popular alcoholic drink in the UK. According to Unite, Encirc is a "very profitable company" with a turnover of over £600million, supplying all the big supermarkets with bottles, box and bags of wine. Unite says the firm has only offered its workers a 3.2 per cent pay rise without negotiating with Unite and has now repeatedly stated from now on it will only give pay rises tied to inflation. Unite says this effectively means removing Unite's collective bargaining rights, as any pay increases will be set by Encirc without negotiations before being imposed on workers. Previously, the union had been able to negotiate with management on pay. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Encirc's meanness to its workers is all about greed and not need. This is a very lucrative company that can fully afford to pay its workers properly but it is choosing not to. "Unite will not stand idly by and allow Encric to steal our members hard won rights. Encirc workers deserve better and they have Unite's full support throughout this dispute." Strikes will take place between June 19 and 5 July - with workers in different parts of the business taking strike action on different dates and times according to production schedules to have the biggest impact. There will also be a 12-week overtime ban as part of the action, the union said. Unite regional officer John Sweeney said: "There is no doubt that this action will hit supermarket shelves. While shortages may be frustrating for customers looking to enjoy a bottle of wine this summer, the situation is entirely of Encirc's own making. "Management has constantly refused to engage meaningfully. Encirc needs to return to the negotiating table with a vastly improved offer."
Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Supermarket shelves could be left EMPTY of wine this summer as factory workers at major bottling company plan strike
Supermarket shelves could be left empty of wine this summer, as factory workers at a major bottling company plan a strike. More than 200 workers in Bristol are planning to strike over pay and collective bargaining between June 19 and July 5 - in a move which could leave shoppers scrambling for wine. The Unite members at the Avonmouth site work across different areas, including bottling and packaging red, white, rose and sparkling wine and distributing it from warehouses. Encirc supplies all the major supermarkets with wine, which is the most popular alcoholic drink in the UK. According to Unite, Encirc is a 'very profitable company' with a turnover of over £600M, supplying all the big supermarkets with bottles, boxes and bags of wine. Unite says the firm has only offered its workers a 3.2 per cent pay rise without negotiating with Unite and has repeatedly stated that from now on it will only give pay rises tied to inflation. This means any pay increases will be set by Encirc without negotiations with Unite before being imposed on workers, the union added. Previously, the union said it had been able to negotiate with management on pay. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: 'Encirc's meanness to its workers is all about greed and not need. 'This is a very lucrative company that can fully afford to pay its workers properly but it is choosing not to. 'Unite will not stand idly by and allow Encric to steal our members hard won rights. Encirc workers deserve better and they have Unite's full support throughout this dispute.' Strikes will take place between June 19 and July 5, with workers in different parts of the business taking strike action on different dates and times according to production schedules to have the biggest impact. There will also be a 12-week overtime ban as part of the action. Unite regional officer John Sweeney said: 'There is no doubt that this action will hit supermarket shelves. 'While shortages may be frustrating for customers looking to enjoy a bottle of wine this summer, the situation is entirely of Encirc's own making. 'Management has constantly refused to engage meaningfully. Encirc needs to return to the negotiating table with a vastly improved offer.'
Telegraph
10 hours ago
- Telegraph
Wine shortage to hit UK this summer
The UK is set to face a wine shortage over the summer as glass makers and bottle fillers strike over pay, according to trade union chiefs. Unite, the union behind the Birmingham bin strikes, has said hundreds of its members at the Bristol branch of Encirc, a leading wine packaging firm, would walk out from Thursday until July 5. Workers based at the site in Avonmouth, Bristol, are said to have been angered after receiving a 3.2 per cent pay rise offer from the firm, with the union claiming it was not consulted about the deal. Staff are scheduled to take action on specific days across the two-week period in an attempt to impact production as much as possible. It comes as the Government faces a ' summer of discontent ', with teacher and university strikes possibly also taking place well into the autumn. 'Encirc is choosing not to pay its workers properly' In a statement, Unite said: 'There is set to be shortages of bottled, box and bags of wine on supermarket shelves this summer as over 200 Unite members at the Encirc site in Avonmouth strike over pay and collective bargaining. 'Members at the factory work across different areas, including bottling and packaging red, white, rosé and sparkling wine and distributing it from warehouses. 'Encirc supplies all the major supermarkets with wine, which is the most popular alcoholic drink in the UK.' The statement said there would also be 'a 12-week overtime ban as part of the action'. John Sweeney, the regional officer at Unite, said: 'There's no doubt that this action will hit supermarket shelves. While shortages may be frustrating for customers looking to enjoy a bottle of wine this summer, the situation is entirely of Encirc's own making. 'Management has consistently refused to engage meaningfully. Encirc needs to return to the negotiating table with a vastly improved offer.' Sharon Graham, Unite's general secretary, criticised the packaging firm's pay offer, saying: 'This is a very lucrative company that can fully afford to pay its workers properly – but it is choosing not to.' The union said it supported Encirc's request for Acas, the conciliation service, to step in.
