MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE HACKNEY CARRIAGE WORKING PARTY HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON FRIDAY, 22 FEBRUARY 2002 COMMENCING AT 10.00 AM


Present :

 

Mrs M J Miller, Mr V J Morey, Mr I R Stephens (deputising for Mr D J Knowles) Mr A A Taylor (deputising for Mr A J Tiltman)


Association Members (non voting) :

 

Mr G Barron (attended for Minute 10), Mr C Gange, Mr S Goundry, Mr J Jones, Mr A Price (attended for Minutes 6 - 9), Mrs J Rounsevell


Also Present (non voting) :

 

Mr E Fox


Apologies :

 

Mr D J Knowles, Mr R A Sutton, Mr A J Tiltman





6.        ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN FOR THE DAY


Due to the absence of the Chairman, it was necessary to elect a Chairman for the day.


RESOLVED :

 

THAT Mr V J Morey be elected Chairman for the day.

 

 7.        MINUTES


RESOLVED :

 

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 6 December 2001 be confirmed.

 

8.        URGENT BUSINESS


The Chairman agreed to the consideration of two items of urgent business as a decision was required prior to the next meeting with one and it was necessary to advise members of the latest position with the other.

 

           (a)       Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers Criminal Record Disclosure Fee

 

The Working Party were advised that a recent Act of Parliament had established the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) that would take over the work of the Police. As a result, from 1 March 2002 the CRB would carry out the necessary checks and supply the Council and the applicant with copies of information held.

 

The applicant would be responsible for obtaining and completing the form. The Senior Licensing Officer advised members of two ways in which the form could be dealt with. If the applicant got the Council to countersign the application then and sent the application and fee, to the Criminal Records Bureau themselves then it was proposed that there would be a saving to the Council on the current administration system for licensing of hackney carriage and private hire drivers. It was suggested to reduce the cost of the new applications fee from £56.00 to £51.00 for new drivers for the first year.

 

The Association members asked where the form would come from and queried who set the price. It was believed that each individual applicant would have to contact the CRB and the fee was set by the Government. The Council would not make any administration charge for the service.

 

RESOLVED :

 

                      (i)        THAT the applicant must get the Council to countersign the application, then send the application and the fee, to the Criminal Records Bureau themselves, be supported.

 

                      (ii)       THAT the cost of new application fee for a drivers licence be reduced by £5.00 from the 1 April 2002, for one year.

 

           (b)       Definition for Suitably Adapted Vehicle for Disabled Use

 

The Portfolio Holder for Transport advised the Working Party of the decision he had taken under delegated powers with regard to the definition for Suitably Adapted Vehicle for Disabled Use, these were :

 

                       1.        That the only acceptable definition of suitably adapted vehicle is a wheelchair accessible vehicle which has a British national type approval certificate from the Vehicle Certification Agency demonstrating that the vehicle is safe and complies with the M1 standards for taxis. Passengers should remain seated in their wheelchairs and either be pushed or hydraulically lifted, not manually lifted into the vehicle and be secured and transported safely within the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

 

                       2.        All new hackney carriage licences shall be wheelchair accessible vehicles unless the Council is satisfied that there is no significant unmet demand for the services of hackney carriages in that zone.

 

                       3.        That the existing hackney carriage licence holders may replace any existing vehicle by transferring the existing hackney carriage to any suitable replacement vehicle since no new hackney carriage licence is required.

 

A letter had been sent to the trade on 5 February 2002 advising them of that definition and asked for any comments in writing by 21 February 2002.

 

The Portfolio Holder went through each part of the decision. The trade agreed with Part 1 and 2, but wanted clarification on Part 3. The Working Party were told that in instances where one vehicle was exchanged for a similar vehicle, it would not be necessary to purchase a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle. Advice was also sought on the issue and re-issue of ‘D’ Plates. Following advice from the Strategic Director of Corporate and Environment Services the Working Party were advised that the delegated decision would be implemented from 22 February 2002.

 

A question was raised by the Trade as to why a Eurocab had been licensed and they had not been informed. The Council’s Senior Solicitor advised the Committee she had been asked for a legal definition of the original resolution, and the Eurocab legally complied with that resolution.

 

RESOLVED :

 

THAT the issue of ‘D’ Plates be brought back to the Hackney Carriage Working Party on 4 April 2002.

 

9.        DEZONING AND DEREGULATION OF TAXIS


The Head of Select Committee Support provided a summary of the Council’s position concerning dezoning taxis.


The Senior Licensing Officer advised the Working Party that the Island was divided into four zones, but licences were issued for trading in one zone only and it was felt that this may inflate fares if travelling out of zone. If it was decided to dezone the process could not be reversed.


The Association asked if it were possible to have a special meeting to look solely at dezoning. Papers would be submitted by both the Isle of Wight Taxi Proprietors Association and the Isle of Wight Council.


RESOLVED :

 

THAT a report on dezoning be brought back to the Hackney Carriage Working Party on 18 April 2002.

 

10.      REPORT OF THE STRATEGIC DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND INFORMATION

 

           (a)       Review and Evaluate Hackney Carriage Stands

 

The Senior Licensing Officer advised the Working Party that there was a need to review and evaluate existing Hackney Carriage Stands. It was believed that there could be a need for two new ‘late night only’ ranks in Ryde and Newport. To ensure that Hackney Carriage Vehicles were integrated into the Public Transport System, it was suggested that the Working Party could consider Taxi Hailing Points in each of the licensed zones that could be used by all taxis. There was some discussion about the Hailing Points and it was decided to bring the matter back to the Working Party, with both the Isle of Wight Taxi Proprietors Association and the Isle of Wight Council submitting reports.

 

RESOLVED :

 

THAT a report on Hackney Carriage Stands be considered by the Working Party on 4 July 2002.

 

           (b)       Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Fees and Charges 1 April 2002 - 31 March 2003

 

The Senior Licensing Officer advised the Trade of the advertised Fees and Charges for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire licences.

 

RESOLVED :

 

THAT the report be noted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAIRMAN