Perth and Kinross Council is currently running a public consultation seeking the views of the public, as well as members of the taxi and private hire trade, about the number of taxis available in Perth.
The consultation, which relates to taxis only (vehicles hailed on the street or from a taxi rank), wants to hear what people think about the number of licences issued for taxis in Perth.
Currently, there is a limit on the total number of taxi licences issued by the Council, which is set at 80. This limit is only put in place if the Council is satisfied that there is no significant unmet demand for taxis, and the situation is reviewed around every three years. If there is an unmet demand for taxis which is significant, then the Council needs to consider if the limit should be increased or removed. As part of that process, a company which is experienced in this field was hired to complete a survey to see if the public demand for taxis was being met. The results of that survey are available on the online Consultation Hub; the key points of those results are:
The amount of time passengers had to wait for a taxi in 2024 was significantly greater than in 2017 (which was pre-pandemic).
Disabled passengers, especially wheelchair users, continue to face increased difficulties.
There is a significant demand for the services of taxis in Perth that is not met (this is an 'unmet demand').
The limit or cap on the number of taxis should be increased by 24 to meet the demand.
If the limit or cap is increased to allow as large a number as 24 new taxi licences to be issued, it is also worth considering whether there is a realistic difference between that and removing the limit or cap altogether (making the number of licences available 'unlimited').
At a Licensing Committee Meeting held on 25 March 2025, it was agreed that the Council would consult with the public to see what the next steps might be in relation to how the unmet demand should be addressed.
The consultation survey is open online at our Consultation Hub until 16 June 2025. Anyone requiring a paper copy or requiring special assistance to complete the consultation can contact the Council's Civic Licensing team on 01738 475180 or email civiclicensing@pkc.gov.uk.
Feedback from this consultation will be used, along with other information collected, to prepare a report to the Licensing Committee. It is the Licensing Committee that make decisions on how many additional taxi licences will be made available, as well any other restrictions on vehicle types.
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