A FIVE per cent increase to maximum taxi fares in Argyll and Bute has been unanimously agreed as a proposal by councillors.
A report invited members of the council’s planning, protective services and licensing (PPSL) committee to review fares as part of a process which requires a new fare structure to be in place by October 22.
The authority’s head of legal and regulatory support will now advertise the proposed changes to tariffs, with responses invited within a month.
Members of the PPSL committee will then receive a report on the feedback received at their meeting in September. The committee held its meeting on Wednesday, June 17.
The council’s current maximum fares are an initial charge of £3.80 for hire between 7am and 10pm, £4.55 for hire between 10pm and 7am, and £5.31 on public holidays, with a subsequent charge of 25p per 176, 150 or 120 yards respectively.
A report to the committee in advance of the meeting said that of 108 operators who were contacted regarding the proposed review, 20 provided a written response.
Of those, 12 requested an increase to maximum fares while eight requested that no increase was made.
Lomond, Lorn, Cowal and Bute were the only areas where any responses were reported as having been submitted.
Councillor Kieron Green (Independent, Oban North and Lorn) said during discussion: “Bearing in mind that we had a 10 per cent increase a year or two ago, but there has been a significant increase in fuel and general inflation, I would be suggesting that looking at the responses, we go for a five per cent increase in fares across the board.”
The committee unanimously agreed, with the proposed changes now to be advertised.
