1.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Interests were declared in the following matters:
Mr J R Adams
declared a prejudicial interest in Minute No 2(a) Taxi Zoning and Minute 2(b)
the adoption of a policy with respect to the seating capacity of wheelchair accessible
Hackney Carriages, as Mr D Pritchard was a personal friend.
Mrs M J Miller
declared a personal interest in Minute 2(a) Taxi Zoning, as the objector ob
behalf of independent taxi proprietors lived in her ward.
Lady Pigot
declared a personal interest in Minute 2(a) Taxi Zoning and Minute 2(b) the
adoption of a policy with respect to the seating capacity of wheelchair
accessible Hackney Carriages, as Mr D Pritchard was known to her.
2.
REPORTS OF THE HEAD OF CONSUMER PROTECTION
Mr J R Adams
withdrew from the meeting, thereby taking no part in the discussion or voting
thereon in accordance with Minute No 1.
(a)
Taxi Zoning
The Committee
adjourned to read the two letters of objection and one letter of support with
regard to the proposal to establish a single taxi licensing zone on the Isle of
Wight, which had been received.
Upon
reconvening, Members were referred to the report of the Head of Consumer
Protection, which detailed the background to the longstanding proposal to
reduce the current position from four taxi licensing zones, on the Island, to a
single taxi licensing zone and requested approval that a formal submission to
that effect be made to the Secretary of State.
Particular mention was made of the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) report
into the Taxi trade, which had been published in November 2003 and to the
Governments response to that report, made by way of a Written Statement to
Parliament in March 2004, which indicated agreement that greater clarity would
be brought to the market if local authorities established a single licensing
area. Members also noted the comments
from the Deputy Transport Director, at the Government Office of the South East,
in the letter dated 21 October 2004 to the previous leader of the Council.
In discussion,
it was emphasized that the issue to be considered was dezoning only and not the
deregulation of the taxi trade. Once
the Secretary of State authorized dezoning on the island the decision could not
be reversed. The matter also formed part of the Council’s integrated Local
Transport Plan and that failure to address the issue could impact on transport
related grants.
Mrs J
Rounsevell, representing independent taxi proprietors on the island, addressed
the Committee speaking against the proposal.
Mrs Rounsevell suggested that a Working Party be established to discuss
the issue and for a survey to be undertaken to ascertain the views of the taxi
trade and other interested bodies. The
Government was due to produce a Best Practice Guide for Local Authorities about
the taxi trade and that any reform of current practice should await the
publication of this document.
Mr J Quilter, a
taxi proprietor, highlighted concerns of the proposal on behalf of the taxi
trade with regard to a perceived reduction in taxi income; would be detrimental
to those living in rural areas; that de-zoning in the area of the former South
Wight Borough Council was not efficient; that the quality of service provision
would decrease.
Mr J Gunter, on
behalf of Hackney Carriage/Private Hire drivers, outlined objections to the
proposal suggesting a status quo as the current procedure worked well to the
benefit of both the taxi trade and consumers.
Following
further discussion and questions by all parties, it was moved and seconded that
the public and press be excluded from the meeting.
RESOLVED
:
THAT, under
Section 100(A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be
excluded from the meeting for the part of this item, on the grounds that there
was likely to be disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 4, of
Part 1, of Schedule 12A of the Act.
Upon reconvening
in public, it was indicated that the Committee had given regard to the report
of the Head of Consumer Protection including appendices, the written submissions
from Mr A Greenman, Mr D Pritchard and ‘Anywhere’ Taxis, the oral submissions
of the Council’s Environmental Health Manager and Principal Licensing Officer,
and the representatives of the taxi trade Mrs J Rounsevell, Mr J Gunter and Mr
J Quilter.
The Committee
felt that the removal of separate taxi zones for the Isle of Wight and
replacing it with one zone would have the following benefits:
a.
Taxi provision would be able to respond to any changes in the
requirements of the consumer;
b.
Busy town centres would be cleared quickly at peak times,
which would provide better services to the public by reducing waiting times;
c.
It would help to reduce any crime and disorder problems, which
could arise as people wait for transport late at night;
d.
Healthy competition between taxis would be encouraged by
allowing taxis to trade anywhere on the island to the benefit of consumers;
e.
The current practice of four zones provided an unnecessary
obstacle to taxis being an efficient part of the Islands Transport Network.
The Committee
thereupon
RESOLVED :
THAT a single
taxi zone for taxi licensing on the Isle of Wight be supported and that a
formal submission to that effect be made to the Secretary of State for
Transport.
(b) Adoption of a Policy
with respect to Seat Capacity of Wheelchair Accessible Hackney Carriages
The report of
the Head of Consumer Protection was received which outlined a proposed policy,
in order to promote consistency in officer decisions, with respect to the
permitted seating capacity of purpose built wheelchair accessible taxis and
other similar type of vehicles used as hackney carriages.
Members were
reminded of previous decisions taken by the Licensing Committee. The Council’s current practice was to
licence vehicles for a maximum of six passengers, which then ensured that the
space next to the driver could be used for luggage, when necessary, and gave
further protection to the drivers’ safety. Proprietors of Eurotaxis, purpose
built with seven passenger seats, were requested to remove the front passenger
seat.
Mr White and Mrs
J Rounsevell, both Hackney Carriage/Private Hire taxi proprietors and drivers,
spoke in support of the proposed policy.
Following
further discussion and questions, it was moved and seconded that the public and
press be excluded from the meeting.
RESOLVED
:
THAT, under
Section 100(A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be
excluded from the meeting for the part of this item, on the grounds that there
was likely to be disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 4, of
Part 1, of Schedule 12A of the Act.
Upon
reconvening, it was indicated that the Committee had considered carefully the
report of the Head of Consumer Protection and were satisfied that the need to
store some wheelchair accessible equipment would reduce luggage space and that
the front footwell area would provide the space needed by passengers. The presence of a passenger in the drivers’
compartment could present a potential threat to driver safety, which would
defeat the object of any partition.
RESOLVED
:
i THAT a policy restricting the seating
capacity to six passengers within the passenger compartment of the vehicle
type, as specified below, be approved thereby allowing room for luggage in the
front of the vehicle :
All
vehicles of similar design to the vehicle commonly known as the
‘London Cab’;
All
FX, TX and other wheelchair accessible hackney carriages such as Metrocab;
All approved multi-purpose vehicles and other conversions with low
volume build or full M1 Type Approval Certificates by the Vehicle Certification
Agency.
ii THAT
any such vehicle currently licensed for seven passengers to be for that
particular vehicle only.
CHAIRMAN
