Issue - decisions

The Committee received a report from the Environmental Health Manager regarding the procurement and implementation of a Hackney Carriage demand survey.

The Committee made the following comments in response to the report:

     i.        The survey did not measure every taxi provider on the market within the City, for example Uber and private hire. Would this impact on the statistical significance of the results?

    ii.        Welcomed the professional research and hoped that the outcome would better enable the council to meet the needs of customers.

   iii.        Would like to see all old taxis replaced by wheelchair user accessible vehicles.

  iv.        How would the amount of new Hackney Carriage vehicles be quantified if the survey results suggested that customer needs were unmet?

In response to Members’ questions the Environmental Health Manager said the following:

     i.        This survey was designed to specifically measure the Hackney Carriage Service. The survey would use both quantitative and qualitative research methods to answer questions surrounding key issues such as taxi rank waiting times, overcrowding and whether demand was being met.

    ii.        The law stated that the Council has authority to undertake a demand survey but limits the authority to Hackney Carriage vehicles only. The Council had to work within the remint of the law.

   iii.        Vehicles that are used as taxis must be replaced once they reach 9 years old. Some but not all of the replacement vehicles are wheelchair accessible.

  iv.        If customer needs were seen to be unmet after the survey the council would seek independent advice on how to meet the demand. If applicable, the amount of additional Hackney Carriage vehicles needed would be indicated by the survey results. The figures would come to Licencing Committee to make the policy decision.

Councillor Benstead referred to wheelchair accessible vehicles and confirmed that some charities and disability groups prefer saloon style vehicles because they are more easily accessible. As such, it was important to have a combination of vehicles available to meet the varying needs of the community.

The Committee:

Resolved (unanimously) to:

     i.        Endorse the procurement and implementation a new Hackney Carriage Demand Survey to determine whether a significant unmet demand continued to exist in the City, and to bring the results and recommendations to Licensing Committee in January 2018.

    ii.        Agree to instruct officers as part of the demand survey, to review the accessibility policy in relation to the Hackney Carriage Vehicles and to bring the results and recommendations to Licensing Committee in January 2018.