HACKNEY drivers caught idling on the ranks and refusing fares could face disciplinary action, under tough new rules.

Taxi drivers will have to sign-up to new conditions governing how they use taxi ranks from next year after Glasgow’s licensing chiefs agreed a new code of conduct which will come into force on February 1.

Under the new rules, drivers will have to be inside or in close proximity to their taxi at all times on the ranks.

They won’t be able cause obstruction on the road while waiting to pick up customers, even if their access to the ranks is blocked by illegally parked cars.

And cabbies caught sitting in the ranks and refusing fares could face disciplinary action, including being stripped of their licence.

In a report to the licensing committee, Carole Forrest, the council’s director of governance, said: “A copy of the code of conduct will be issued to all taxi drivers in order to ensure that they are aware of the requirements and the implications of a failure to comply.

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“For the avoidance of doubt, compliance with the code of conduct will still be a relevant consideration in terms of whether an existing taxi driver is a fit and proper person to be the holder of a licence.”

All new taxi licence applicants will be required to follow the updated rules included as a condition of their jobs.

Those currently working as taxi drivers in the city won’t have their terms and conditions changed until they renew their licence.

But all drivers will be expected to follow the new rules.

Taxi stances in the city have rules regarding the maximum number of taxis that can be working there at any one time.

If drivers see that a certain rank is working to full capacity, they will not be allowed to join the queue and will be expected to find an alternative rank. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action.

Cabbies are also expected to comply with road traffic and parking laws, meaning double parking or waiting on double yellow lines is not allowed.

Councillors agreed to implement the new code of conduct from February 1 with guidelines on granting, varying and revoking taxi licences set to go before the licensing committee in the coming months.

Stephen Flynn, chairman of Glasgow Taxis, said in order to ensure the new rules are successful there must be more taxi ranks in the city centre.

He told the Evening Times: "We have to make sure there's enough ranks in the city centre, which there's not, and there certainly isn't enough space for the disabled.

"Until we resolve this issue and look at the the giving out of private hire licences willy nilly it won't make much difference.

"It's got to be working ranks as well, putting them in places nobody is going to go is useless."