Glasgow launches review of taxi and private hire overprovision policies

Glasgow City Council has launched a review on the number of taxis and private hire vehicles operating in the city.

The move follows concerns that there are not enough cabs operating late at night, and this was deterring people from visiting the city in the evening.

Glasgow City Council’s Licensing and Regulatory Committee has now launched a public consultation, which could result in a change to Glasgow’s strict cap on taxi numbers.

Glasgow currently has rules in place that state there is no over-provision of taxis until the number of vehicles reaches 1,420. For private hire cars there is no overprovision until the number of vehicles licensed for hire reaches 3,450.

The most recent figures show there are 1,227 taxi vehicles, while private hire numbers are limited by the 3,450-vehicle cap.

The Licensing and Regulatory Committee wants to see if the overprovision policies have general support from the public, taxi and private hire car operators, business and night time economy representatives, emergency services, community councils and other stakeholders.

Cllr Alex Wilson, chair of the Licensing and Regulatory Committee, said: “Glasgow’s taxis and private hire cars are a key part of the city’s transport system and are vital for getting people safely to and from the city centre at night. But the trade has faced huge challenges such as the covid pandemic and the growth of phone-app technology. People’s leisure habits have also changed significantly in recent years.”

He continued: “Given the shifting landscape, it is right that the licensing committee reflects on whether our policies still proportionate and necessary.  Gathering the widest possible range of views will help us ensure our policies strike the right balance for both operators and passengers. Anyone who has ever been in a taxi or private hire car in Glasgow has a stake in this policy review and I appeal to all to contribute to our survey.”

The public consultation on overprovision policies for taxi and private hire car vehicles in Glasgow is now open until May 28, 2025.It is available through this link: www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/OUDP2025/