ROUND THE COUNCILS GLASGOW:
250 MORE PHV LICENCES TO BE ISSUED
Over 250 more private hire car licences will be available in Glasgow in a bid to address demand at busy times, such as weekend evenings. A review of the trade, commissioned by the council, found that there is “unmet demand” for taxis and some evidence of “potential underprovision of private hire cars”, particularly at peak times. Glasgow residents have reported struggling to get taxis or private hires after night-outs in the city centre since Covid-19 restrictions were lifted. Research found private hire drivers have dropped from 5,475 in 2019 to 3,312 in January this year, while the number of taxi drivers has fallen from 2,353 to 1,756 in the same period. Licensed taxi vehicles have reduced from 1,420 in 2019 to 1,408 in January, with private hire cars dropping from 3,940 to 3,176. Council policies limit taxi licence numbers to between 1,278 and 1,420 and private hires from 3,195 to 3,759. The report recommended taxi licences should be “managed to a limit of 1,420” while the private hire licence limit should be lifted to 3,383. This change would have allowed 188 more private hires to be licensed, however licensing chairman, Cllr Alex Wilson suggested increasing the limit further to 3,450, which means 255 more licences. His proposal was backed by the licensing committee. Cllr Wilson, SNP, said the “excellent” report “does highlight there are deficiencies out there and I think the trade would recognise that as well”. He added: “We are struggling to get drivers, we are struggling to get vehicles out there. There are problems with the night-time economy. I speak to many of the nightclub owners, bar staff, waitresses etc, and they are struggling to get home.” The cap should be reviewed in three years and “if considered necessary” an interim review could take place in 12 months, the report added. Cllr Wilson said: “The review process is vital, especially on the back of a major change to Glasgow, which is the Low Emission Zone. I think looking at how that will impact the trade out there is something that we really need to consider 12 months down the line.” However,
trade representatives at the licensing
meeting believed more vehicle licences could make the job unsustainable for current drivers. One said public transport in the city needed to be
PHTM JUNE 2023
improved to ease the demand on busy weekends. The review found there was evidence that “significant unmet demand is being triggered by a lack of taxi drivers as opposed to a lack of taxis”. For private hires, it stated while there was “difference of opinion” within the trade, the general suggestion was “the primary issue is a lack of drivers rather than a lack of vehicles”. However, it added: “Increasing the limit may assist in increasing the number of drivers entering the trade.” Licences for drivers have shown “continuing decline” since a peak in 2008, with “a reduction of approximately 14% between January 2022 and January 2023 alone”. Economic downturn, the higher cost of living and post-Covid recovery are given as reasons for the reductions, with “anecdotal evidence” showing drivers began working as parcel and food delivery operators during the pandemic.
CHARNWOOD: DRIVERS CAN'T AFFORD FEE INCREASE
Charnwood Borough Council is reviewing its fees but taxi drivers say they can’t afford an increase due to losing up to 85 per cent of their business following Covid and competition from Uber. The changes would see existing taxi drivers paying £30 more per year in fees. New drivers would be paying between £56 to £81 more per year. But drivers from the borough have objected to the proposed rises in a series of emails to the council, claiming they’ve been hit hard by a drop in passengers and the cost-of-living crisis, with one driver calling the situation ‘really bad’. Some of the emails accuse the council of doing nothing to help, but the council has said this is a national problem. A member of the council’s licensing team replied to objections mentioning Uber, saying: “Unfortunately, the issue of ‘cross border hiring’ has been a problem for the trade and licensing authorities for some time. “This is the same national issue that prompted Charnwood hackney carriage drivers to meet with the local MP and submit a petition to Parliament in 2018. Councils share your frustration with the situation.” A Charnwood BC spokesperson said: “The council reviews its discretionary licensing fees each year, taxi licensing fees were last increased in May 2019, and we believe the increases are proportionate. They are also in line with charges in neighbouring authorities.
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