COUNCILLORS VOTE TO INCREASE TAXI PLATES

Perth and Kinross councillors have voted to issue 24 more taxi plates in Perth despite members of the trade saying there is a driver shortage.

- KATHRYN ANDERSON

A recent survey - carried out by LVSA in December 2024 - concluded there was a “significant” shortage of taxis in Perth and recommended PKC’s cap on taxis in the city increase from 80 to 104.

Representatives from Perth's taxi trade packed the council chambers’ public gallery on Monday and representatives told elected members the taxi shortage was due to a driver shortage driven by badly-behaved passengers.

Licensing lawyer Stephen McGowan addressed Perth and Kinross Licensing Committee on Monday, October 6 on behalf of Perth Taxi Association.

Mr McGowan argued there had been “procedural unfairness” in the public consultation which asked whether the council should raise the number of taxi licences in Perth by 24 or remove the cap altogether.

He said: “The choice of 24 plates is not justified. Perhaps amore incremental approach of four plates and monitoring the impact of that would be more prudent and evidence-based.

“What my client wants is fairness.”

The trade association called for PKC to launch a fresh consultation “without closed questions” and to instead offer “a suite of options”

He added: “There are a number of people here today because they are greatly concerned about the decision the committee may make today - their livelihoods will be impacted. If the committee issues 24 more plates that's less work for them. That will water down the amount of work available for taxi licence holders.”

Perth Radio Taxis owner and Perth Taxi Association chairman Sandy Smith told councillors drivershortages had been an issue since covid and that drivers being assaulted and abused was a “massive problem’.