PAPER B
Committee: FIRE AND PUBLIC SAFETY SELECT COMMITTEE
Date: 20 MAY 2002
Title: DEZONING OF TAXIS
REPORT OF THE STRATEGIC DIRECTOR OF FINANCE & INFORMATION
SUMMARY/PURPOSE
To invite the Fire and Public Safety Select Committee to consider instigating a formal process of consultation following the meeting of the Hackney Carriage Working Party held on 18th April 2002 in the context of taxi dezoning.
BACKGROUND
1. The Fire and Public Safety Select Committee embarked on an investigation into dezoning (and /or deregulating) taxis early last year. On 30 April 2001 the Select Committee resolved that Dezoning be referred to a Hackney Carriage Working Party, working on the basis that a recommendation to the trade from the Select Committee that an Island wide formally constituted taxi proprietors association be established, actually was established.
2. The Hackney Carriage Working Party now established has planned a programme of regular meetings with the taxi trade. The Isle of Wight Taxi Proprietors Association has appointed 5 of its members to the working party.
3. The main item of business considered at the Working Party meeting on 18 April 2002 was dezoning of taxis. Minutes of that meeting appear elsewhere in this agenda.
4. The Working Party resolved : “That a report supporting the principle of dezoning be referred to the Fire and Public Safety Select Committee.”
5. The Council’s Senior Licensing Officer advised the Working Party that if the Council were to adopt a policy of dezoning it should be on the basis of formal consultation having been undertaken with interested parties, including the public, town and parish councils and the trade. Evidence collected from the consultation should be placed before the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State’s approval is required before the Council actually dezones.
6. As the Working Party minutes outline and the resolution indicates, after hearing views from officers and the trade, support for the principle of dezoning was expressed.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
Nominal costs associated with a public consultation, office time associated with conducting that consultation and evaluating the results.
OPTIONS
1. To note this report and take no actions
2. To direct that officers conduct the requisite consultation and report the results to the Fire and Public Safety Select Committee as soon as reasonably practical.
RECOMMENDATIONS
That option 2 be agreed
Report to the Hackney Carriage Working Party - 18 April 2002
Minutes of the Hackney Carriage Working Party - 18 April 2002
Contact Point: Rob Owen, ☎ 01983 823388
JOHN PULSFORD
Strategic Director Finance and Information