Interim Amendments to Cambridge City Council’s Taxicard Scheme

Decision of:

Councillor Nicky Massey: Executive Councillor for Transport and Community Safety

Reference:

20/URGENCY/P&T/03

Date of decision:                                  22.02.21

Published on: 

02/03/21

Decision Type:

Non-Key

Matter for Decision:

Executive Councillor for Transport and Community Safety is recommended to:

i. Agree a proposal to allow members of Cambridge City Council’s Taxicard Scheme to use two vouchers on each trip from 1 April 2021 – 30 September 2021.  This would allow the user up to £7.60 towards the cost of a taxi trip as opposed to one voucher of £3.80.  Recognising members may have financial difficulties as a result of Covid or have additional health problems and are relying on taxis to get them from A to B, it would help to provide additional financial support to Taxicard members (disabled people on low incomes) to help to pay for their taxi journeys.

ii. Agree for Taxicard members to receive a book of 50 vouchers valued at £3.80 each from 1 April 2021 – 30 September 2021 and to be able to use two vouchers per trip if so choosing to whilst a review of the Taxicard scheme is progressed.

iii.  Agree that a further book of vouchers will be made available to Taxicard members during this period if requested.  In this event, a proportionate amount of vouchers will be issued for the remainder of 6 the month period

Why the decision had to be made (and any alternative options):

The Taxicard is a Scheme that helps disabled people on low incomes pay for taxi journeys.  The scheme operates by issuing members with a book of 100 vouchers running from 1 April – 31 March each year.  Each voucher is currently worth £3.70, this figure increases by 10p each year.

Officers are currently carrying out a review of the existing Taxicard Scheme with the aim of increasing usage by its members with the remit of a more flexible Taxicard scheme.  Whilst the review is being undertaken it is considered to be prudent to only issue only 6 months of vouchers at this time so that a revised scheme, if approved can then be introduced in 2021/22.

During the covid pandemic and reduced public transport provision on some routes members of the Taxicard scheme may need to use taxi’s more.  By allowing the use of two vouchers per trip it will provide more support to members but will remain within the overall provision of the scheme.  This scheme supports disabled people on low incomes to pay for taxi journeys, this decision would provide additional financial support to its members at this time. 

The renewals process for the issue of Taxicards takes place during the months of February and March and therefore a decision is required on this proposal now to link in with the renewals process.  The next Planning and Transport Committee is in March and this would be too late to make the arrangements for the new vouchers to be printed and issued and would leave the Taxicard members without provision for a period of time.  

Taxi companies will need to be made aware of any approved changes, so they are ready to take two vouchers if presented with them from 1 April.  This proposal does not affect the amount the Taxi Companies receive as their costs will continue to be reimbursed on a monthly basis.

The Executive Councillor’s decision(s):

i.  Agreed a proposal to allow members of Cambridge City Council’s Taxicard Scheme to use two vouchers on each trip from 1 April 2021 – 30 September 2021.  This would allow the user up to £7.60 towards the cost of a taxi trip as opposed to one voucher of £3.80.  Recognising members may have financial difficulties as a result of Covid or have additional health problems and are relying on taxis to get them from A to B, it would help to provide additional financial support to Taxicard members (disabled people on low incomes) to help to pay for their taxi journeys.

ii.  Agreed for Taxicard members to receive a book of 50 vouchers valued at £3.80 each from 1 April 2021 – 30 September 2021 and to be able to use two vouchers per trip if so choosing to whilst a review of the Taxicard scheme is progressed.

iii.  Agreed that a further book of vouchers will be made available to Taxicard members during this period if requested.  In this event, a proportionate amount of vouchers will be issued for the remainder of 6 the month period.

Reasons for the decision:

As detailed in Appendix 1 which can be viewed at the link below:

https://democracy.cambridge.gov.uk/ecCatDisplay.aspx?sch=doc&cat=13471

Scrutiny consideration:

The Chair and Spokesperson of Planning and Transport Scrutiny Committee were consulted prior to the action being authorised.

Report:

See Appendix 1which can be viewed at the link below:

ttps://democracy.cambridge.gov.uk/ecCatDisplay.aspx?sch=doc&cat=13471

Conflicts of interest:

None

Comments:

The decision will be reported back to the Planning and Transport Scrutiny Committee.