Cardiff Council gives green light to INCREASED daytime taxi tariffs of 18% and 41% late at night
Updated: Oct 3, 2022
Cardiff Council has given the green light to increase cab fares by between 18% and 41% on journeys within the city, after an alternative proposal made by Dragon Taxis was rejected.
The rises were proposed by Cardiff Council's Cabinet in June and were passed this week at a Council Cabinet meeting on Wednesday 28 September. Sharp increases in fuel costs and second-hand cars have pushed the need for a first increase since 2018.
The maximum charge for a 10-mile journey between 5am and 8pm, Monday to Friday, would rise by 18.1%, from £20.40 to £24.10. The same distance on weekday evenings (8pm-10pm) and between 5am and 10pm on Saturdays and Sundays would cost £26.70, a rise of 30.1% on the current charge of £20.40. On any day between 10pm and 5am, and all day on Bank Holidays, a 10-mile journey would rise by 41.6%, from £21.40 to £30.30.
In the rejected counter proposal made by Dragon Taxis, a 13.43% increase was suggested for the average booking. Dragon Taxis has more than 800 drivers licensed by Cardiff Council.
Cllr Dan De'Ath, the Council's Cabinet member for Transport and Strategic Planning, said: "We are very aware of the impact that the rise in fuel prices and used cars has had on the licensed cab trade and in these areas the rises have been far higher than the standard rate of inflation.
"But we have to balance the evidence of rising costs and fairness for drivers with consideration for the customer."
Speaking at the Council Cabinet meeting, Cllr Huw Thomas said the council recognised that the increase represented the first increase in four years. The council will look to make tariff reviews more regular by working with trade representatives at Unite Wales Taxi Branch Cardiff Hackney Alliance. Annual reviews would supply more incremental fare changes in the future, rather than one big jump in prices charged by taxis.
