Agenda item

To consider a report which details the responses received in relation to the recent consultation exercise carried out regarding the hackney carriage service and requests the Committee to make resolutions in relation to a number of issues

The Committee considered a report detailing the results of a consultation exercise which had been undertaken in relation to the hackney carriage service within the Borough.

The consultation document had requested views on the number and location of taxi ranks throughout the Borough, and future policy in relation to the numbers of hackney carriages, the tables of hackney carriage fares and the hackney carriage vehicle conditions within each of the three zones.

RESOLVED

(a) That it be recommended to Cabinet or the Cabinet Member for Safer & Stronger Communities that an unmet demand survey be commissioned in all three of the hackney carriage zones.

(b) That fares in each of the three hackney carriage zones within the Borough be increased by 10%, and that the Borough Solicitor, or an officer acting on her behalf, be authorised to publish notice of the proposals in each of the three zones, making provision for any objections to be submitted within the statutory consultation period of fourteen days; and

(c) That, if no objections are received within the statutory consultation period, or if any objections that are received are withdrawn, the table of fares will come into operation in each of the three zones on the date of the expiration of the consultation period; and

(d) That it be noted that if objections are received and not withdrawn, these will be reported to a future meeting of the Licensing Committee for consideration.

(e) That officers be requested to produce a draft set of hackney carriage vehicle conditions for each of the three zones, based on the existing private hire vehicle specification, to include a requirement that all new hackney carriages be wheelchair accessible and provision for the increased testing of vehicles rather than an age limit for vehicles.  The draft conditions, together with information on the testing of trailers and tinted windows, to be considered at a future meeting of the Committee; and

(f) That officers be requested to draft vehicle test guidelines which reflect the requirements of the draft conditions, for consideration at a future meeting of the Committee.

(g) That the Cabinet Member for Safer & Stronger Communities be recommended to authorise the Borough Solicitor, or officer acting on her behalf, to provide notice in accordance with the requirements of section 63 of the 1976 Act, in relation to the proposed variation of hackney carriage stands set out within paragraph 10.5 of the report; and

(h) That officers be authorised to seek the consent of the Highway Authority in relation to the proposed variation to hackney carriage stands set out within paragraph 10.5 of the report; and

(i) That it be noted that, subject to the consent of the Highway Authority being received, if no objections or representations are received within the statutory consultation period, the variation to the hackney carriage stands will come into effect on the day after the last day of the consultation period; and

(j) That it be noted that if objections or representations are received within the statutory consultation period, these will be reported to a future meeting for consideration.

(k) That officers be authorised to engage in discussions with the Highway Authority about the location and number of taxi ranks in each of the three hackney carriage zones.