Key Points
- £42.5 Million Total Spend: Figures obtained through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request reveal Glasgow City Council spent more than £42.5 million on taxis and private hire vehicles over the past five financial years.
- Education Services Account for Vast Majority: The bulk of the expenditure—amounting to £38.1 million—was directed towards transport within education services, predominantly for Additional Support Needs (ASN) pupils and vulnerable children.
- Year-on-Year Budget Escalation: Annual taxi costs rose consistently each year, climbing from £7.4 million in 2021/22 to £10.3 million in 2025/26.
- Elected Members’ Taxi Expenditure: Expenditure on taxis for elected council members increased annually from £954.17 in 2021/22 to £3,598.43 in 2025/26, with an average single journey cost of £18.55 in the most recent financial year.
- Political Call for Financial Transparency: Councillor Paul Carey BEM voiced firm criticism, demanding greater scrutiny of local authority spending before local residents and public services are asked to absorb budget savings.
- Council Cites Statutory Obligations: Local authority spokespersons emphasised that home-to-school transport is a legally binding obligation, with rising transport expenses and specialised pupil requirements driving up operational costs.
Glasgow (Glasgow Express) October 16, 2026 – Glasgow City Council has spent more than £42.5 million on taxis and private hire vehicles over the past five financial years, official Freedom of Information figures have revealed.
As reported by Local Democracy Reporter Catherine Hunter of the Glasgow Times, The Herald, and Glasgow Live, data released under Freedom of Information legislation demonstrates that local authority expenditure on taxi and private hire transport has risen steadily year-on-year, driven largely by statutory education requirements.
The official data outlines an upward trajectory in taxi expenses across successive financial periods. As reported by Catherine Hunter of The Herald, expenditure stood at £7.4 million in 2021/22, rising to £7.9 million in 2022/23. Costs continued to grow in subsequent years, reaching £7.8 million in 2023/24, before climbing significantly to £9.2 million in 2024/25 and reaching £10.3 million in 2025/26.
The financial records disclose that out of the total £42.5 million outlay, £38.1 million was spent specifically by education services. Local authority transport provision for schools forms a significant component of this total, with the council managing statutory transport commitments for pupils across the city.
The findings also provide a detailed breakdown regarding taxi usage by elected council members. As reported by Catherine Hunter of the Glasgow Times, taxi spending for elected members amounted to £954.17 in 2021/22, £2,110.33 in 2022/23, £3,229.44 in 2023/24, £3,403.46 in 2024/25, and £3,598.43 in 2025/26. During the 2025/26 period, the average cost per individual journey undertaken by an elected member was recorded at £18.55.
Addressing the scale of the overall transport expenditure, Councillor Paul Carey BEM expressed strong concerns regarding fiscal management and public accountability. As reported by Catherine Hunter of Glasgow Live, Councillor Paul Carey BEM stated that “every pound of public money should be spent carefully”.
Elaborating further on the expenditure figures, Councillor Paul Carey BEM stated:
“The people of Glasgow deserve answers. Before asking residents and frontline services to bear the burden of further savings, the council must show that it has examined every area of spending – including its taxi bill.”
Councillor Paul Carey BEM added:
“Let me be clear: there will be circumstances where taxis are necessary. Some residents depend on accessible transport, while certain council services may need taxis to carry out essential work. These journeys must be considered fairly and responsibly.”
Continuing his remarks, Councillor Paul Carey BEM emphasised that the scrutiny was not aimed at withholding support from vulnerable groups:
“This is not about denying anyone essential transport or making life more difficult for vulnerable people. It is about accountability, common sense and treating taxpayers’ money with the respect it deserves. Glasgow’s residents work hard for their money.”
In response to the figures, local authority representatives outlined the statutory obligations governing council transport policies. As reported by Catherine Hunter of Glasgow Live, an official Glasgow City Council spokeswoman stated:
“Glasgow, like all local authorities, has a statutory obligation to provide home school transport for children and young people who are entitled. This is on the grounds of either distance, additional support needs, or school placement.”
Providing additional operational details on transport costs within the education sector, the Glasgow City Council spokeswoman stated:
“We spent £17.7 million on home to school transport in 2025/26 – 16% was mainstream homeschool transport and 84% ASL home to school transport.”
The council spokesperson further noted that local authority officers are actively pursuing travel independence schemes and alternative transport solutions to mitigate escalating costs. As reported by Catherine Hunter of the Glasgow Times, the Glasgow City Council spokeswoman stated:
“Officers will continue to explore options, where appropriate, to introduce independent travel to those young people who could benefit from such initiatives and recently won a national transport award. As well as exploring cost effective alternatives considering rising transport costs.”
How Has Glasgow City Council’s Transport Policy Evolved in Recent Years?
The statutory framework governing local authority transport in Scotland places a legal requirement on councils to provide free transport to pupils who live beyond specific walking distances from their catchment schools or who possess identified Additional Support Needs (ASN). In Glasgow, fulfilling these legal duties has required complex logistics involving specialized private hire vehicles, wheelchair-accessible taxis, and dedicated escorts to ensure safe transit for vulnerable children.
Over the last decade, Scottish local authorities have experienced an increase in the number of young people identified as requiring additional learning and physical support. This demographic shift, combined with rising fuel costs, expanded low-emission zone requirements, and increased driver tariffs across the private hire sector, has placed compound pressure on local authority transport budgets across Scotland.
To mitigate long-term financial commitments, Glasgow City Council introduced independent travel training programs aimed at assisting older ASN students in developing confidence to use public transport where appropriate. While these initiatives have garnered national recognition within local government transport sectors, the underlying statutory duty to guarantee safe transportation for eligible pupils continues to make private taxi hire an indispensable operational component of municipal service delivery.
How Will This Transport Expenditure Development Impact Glasgow Taxpayers and Service Users?
The disclosure of £42.5 million in taxi and private hire spending over five years is expected to influence upcoming local authority budget deliberations, directly impacting both Glasgow council taxpayers and vulnerable service users.
- Impact on Council Taxpayers: With local authorities facing persistent fiscal constraints across Scotland, public spending on contracted transport will likely face heightened political scrutiny. Taxpayers may see elected representatives push for stricter audits on local authority operational expenses and administrative travel, ensuring that municipal allocations are prioritized for core public services before local tax rates or service fees are adjusted.
- Impact on ASN Families and Students: Families relying on council-funded home-to-school transport for children with Additional Support Needs may experience changes in how services are delivered. While the council maintains its legal duty to provide home-to-school transport, officers will likely expand independent travel training schemes and review route efficiency. Families may see increased emphasis on shared journeys, alternative vehicle routing, or modified transit arrangements as the local authority attempts to control rising private hire contract tariffs.
- Impact on Local Taxi and Private Hire Operators: Private hire and taxi operators in Glasgow remain key beneficiaries of local authority transport contracts. Continued demand for ASN pupil transport ensures sustained revenue for licensed operators, though potential procurement revisions or contract rationalization by the council could lead to tighter margins and stricter compliance requirements for transport providers competing for council contracts.
