Agenda item

The committee received a report from the Licensing Manager regarding the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy. He stated that the carriage of wheelchairs would be subject to further consultation. The Head of Refuse and Environment confirmed that while existing case law had been considered when drafting the policy, no decision had yet been made.

 

Public Speaker Mr Wratten on behalf of Cambridge Licensed Taxis Limited

Mr Wratten raised the following points:

             I.      The trade did not feel that they had been fully consulted.

          II.      The penalty points system had been added at the last minute which had not allowed the trade to make an adequate response.

       III.      The situation had changed since last April and the penalty points system was no longer needed.

      IV.      The taxi trade is only responsible for 3% of City emissions.

         V.      There had been no consultation on the introduction of Euro 5 as the emissions standard.

      VI.      The taxi trade needed help in difficult financial times.

   VII.      Best practice on consultations had not been adhered to.

VIII.      The service the Council provides to drivers in inadequate and items submitted to not reach committee for consideration.

      IX.      Drivers had valued the previous services whereby a dedicated officer dealt with taxi issues.

         X.      In London age restrictions in vehicles were less restrictive.

 

Members responded with the following points:

             I.      Locally vehicles are tested to the standards of when they were built.

          II.      London standards require modifications to the vehicle.

       III.      Euro 4 standard vehicles could be extended.

      IV.      Euro 3 standard vehicles needed to phased out as soon as possible subject to adequate notice being given.

         V.      Members shared the concerns of the trade that their representations were not included in the report.

      VI.      Members should see details of consultations.

   VII.      The monopoly of the Depot as a testing centre should be looked into.

 

The Chair reminded the committee that the decisions before them were policy matters and that operational matters should be addressed at the Taxi Forum with the Executive Councillor. The Chair indicated that she would be happy to attend the Forum. Councillor Blencowe expressed concern that changes to the Taxi Guide policy committee were delegated to the Head of Service. It was agreed following discussion that changes to the guide would in future be subject to consultation with the Chair and Spokes.

 

The Chair confirmed that further consultation was needed on minimum emissions standards. This would be subject to the agreement of the Chair, Vice Chair and the Opposition Spokes.

 

The Chair noted members’ concerns that the trade do not feel their representations had been fully addressed.

 

The committee agreed to amend the recommendations to allow for further consultations to take place.

 

The committee resolved to:

 

             I.      Note the content of the report and adopt the draft attached as Appendix D to the report as Cambridge City Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy with immediate effect, save that officers will discuss with the Chair, Vice Chair and Spokes, paragraph 23.8 and 23.9 (Page 12 of the Draft Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy) which will be subject to further consultation (by 8 votes to 0).

 

          II.      Note the contents of the “Taxi Guide” (Appendix E) and to delegate authority to the Head of Refuse and Environment, in consultation with the Chair and Spokes, make any future amendments to the “Taxi Guide” (by 8 votes to 0).

 

       III.      Agree the purpose of the demand survey is to establish whether or not the current Hackney Carriage fleet meets the demand for the services of Hackney Carriages within the district and additionally to cover accessibility issues and the provision of ranks within the Council’s district (by 7 vote to 1).

 

      IV.      Request that officers develop a draft enforcement management system in consultation with the Chair, Vice Chair and Spokes that will be brought back to a subsequent licensing committee for Member consideration prior to appropriate public consultation  (by 5 votes to 0).