PKC committee passes new scheme for 24 taxi licences

Perth and Kinross Council's (PKC) Licensing Committee has unanimously agreed to a new scheme to allocate 24 additional taxi licence plates in Perth despite warnings from those in the industry the impact could be "devastating".

- KATHRYN ANDERSON

Perth Taxi Association warned councillors the scheme - being used to implement the committee's October decision to issue 24 more taxi plates in Perth despite strong opposition from local cabbies - could destroy the trade.

The principles of the scheme are to improve accessibility, grow Perth's taxi trade and ensure fairness and transparency.

At PKC's Licensing Committee meeting on Monday, December 15 councillors agreed any of the 24 new licence plates issued will not be transferable and must be returned to the local authority if no longer wanted or used.

Vehicles will have to be wheelchair accessible and priority will be given to taxi operators who do not already have a licence plate in a bid to "grow the local taxi trade".

The Perth and Kinross Council report - put before councillors - said the new scheme was designed to "ensure fairness and transparency", allowing only one licence to each new applicant in the first instance.

Councillors were told: "If, after processing all eligible new entrants, licences remain unallocated, the scheme will allow for allocation to existing single-plate operators, and then to other eligible applicants, always on a onelicence per-applicant basis per round."

Addressing councillors in the chambers, taxi drivers said the consequences of the new scheme would be "devastating" for both the trade and Perth residents.