North Ayrshire - Taxi Fare Review

NORTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL
TAXI FARE REVIEW

Notice is hereby given that North Ayrshire Council, being the Licensing Authority in terms of section 17 of the above Act, as amended, have reviewed the scales for fares and other charges in relation to taxis licensed within the Council area, and the undernoted fare structure is proposed throughout all North Ayrshire. This matter will be heard by the Licensing Committee where any further responses will be considered, and a fare structure fixed. Under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, this notice must be published for a period of at least one month from the date of publication where further representations can be made. Should you wish to make a representation then please submit this via email to licensing@north-ayrshire.gov.uk.

The Licensing Committee met on 19th June 2024 and the following link contains access to the papers placed before the Committee and also the minute from the hearing: North Ayrshire Council Meetings Calendar (cmis.uk.com)
Proposed Fare Structure:

Tariff 1 (Normal)
Up to the first 3/4 mile – £3.50
Then each mile – £2.30 (in 10p units)
Waiting: up to 10 minutes – £3.50 (and then 10p every 20 seconds or part)

Tariff 2 (Higher)
Up to the first 3/4 mile – £4.00
Then each mile – £3.00 (in 10p units)
Waiting: up to 10 minutes – £4.00 (and then 10p every 20 seconds or part)
Tariff 2 applies if the journey starts and/or ends:
– in the period 12.00 p.m. (midnight) to 7.00 a.m. (“Night”)
– on a Sunday
– on the following Public Holidays:
Good Friday
early May Bank Holiday
Spring Bank Holiday
Summer Bank Holiday
30 November (St Andrew’s Day)

If a Bank Holiday is on a weekend, the following Monday is treated as the Bank Holiday

Tariff 3 (Festive period)
If the journey starts AND/OR ends from 25th December until 26th December at 7am or from 1st January until 2nd January at 7am, the fare is double Tariff 1.

Boundary Zone Charge
If the journey is from the Zone for which the vehicle is licensed to another Zone in North Ayrshire: the fare is whichever of Tariff 1, 2 or 3 would otherwise apply, plus 50%.

Large Vehicle Charge (5 or more passengers)
If the vehicle starts by carrying more than 4 passengers, the fare is charged as an extra 50% on whichever of Tariff 1, 2 or 3 would otherwise apply. The higher fare applies until the hire ends, even if some of the passengers leave the vehicle earlier and there are fewer than 5 left in the vehicle.

Extra Charges
Soiling Charge – £50

Notes
1. If two Tariffs could apply to a journey, the driver can charge the higher one. The metered charge is the maximum which can be charged. The driver can always charge less.

2. These Scales apply to journeys which both start and end within North Ayrshire. The Council do not set fares for journeys beyond the Council area. The passenger and the driver should agree the fare before the start of the journey.

3. Luggage shall be carried free if it is of a size which can reasonably be accommodated in the car.

4. Tariffs apply as soon as the journey starts and do not change. For example, if a journey starts at 6.30 a.m. (Tariff 2 is “Higher”) but ends at 7.30 a.m. (Tariff 1 is “Normal”), then the fare is still Tariff 2 because the journey started at night.

5. The meter can only be started immediately before the vehicle moves off and must be stopped when the vehicle arrives at its destination. The meter cannot be used while the vehicle is being loaded before moving off or being unloaded after the vehicle stops at its destination, unless the passenger has asked the driver to wait.

6. There is no extra charge for loading, carrying or unloading passengers with wheelchairs, assistance animals or anything the passenger wants to have carried.

Head of Democratic Services, Cunninghame House, Irvine KA12 8EE