PAPER A
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE FIRE AND PUBLIC SAFETY SELECT COMMITTEE HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON MONDAY, 21 OCTOBER 2002 COMMENCING AT 10.00 AM
Present :
Mr G P Price (Chairman), Mr B E Abraham, Mr J R Adams, Mr A C Coburn, Mrs B E Foster, Mr G S Kendall, Mrs M J Miller, Mr V J Morey, Mr R A Sutton, Mr A A Taylor
Apologies :
Mr C B W Chapman, Mr D J Knowles, Mr I R Stephens
Portfolio Holder :
Mr E Fox
Also present (non-voting) :
Mr A Bartlett. Mr J F Howe
32. MINUTES
RESOLVED :
THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 16 September 2002 be confirmed.
33. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were no declarations made at this stage.
34. URGENT BUSINESS - FBU STRIKE ACTION
The Chairman raised an item of urgent business relating to the proposed national strike action by members of the Fire Brigades Union.
He indicated that the Leader of the Council, the Portfolio Holder, and other leading members had been advised by the Chief Fire Officer of contingency plans that had been put in place.
RESOLVED :
THAT the report be noted.
35. DEZONING OF TAXIS
Immediately prior to consideration of the report of the Strategic Director for Finance and Information and County Treasurer the Isle of Wight Taxi Proprietors Association circulated its comments on dezoning. The Chairman therefore adjourned the meeting to enable the Select Committee to read these.
After reconvening a further adjournment was agreed to enable advice to be obtained in relation to declarations of interest. Upon reconvening the following declarations were made :-
Mrs M Miller - a personal interest as a member of the East Cowes Town Council;
Mr B Abraham - a personal interest as a member of Wootton Bridge Parish Council;
Mr A C Coburn - a personal and prejudicial interest as the holder of a private hire drivers licence (Mr Coburn left the meeting for this item and took no part in the discussion and voting thereon)
The Head of Consumer Protection outlined the background to the investigations into the dezoning of taxis. The Select Committee had, at its meeting on 20 May 2002, instructed officers to undertake a consultation exercise on dezoning and report back. Members were advised of the comments received from taxi proprietors, Town and Parish Councils and the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Discussions had also been held with the Association on a number of issues aimed at benefiting the trade and improving the service provided to the public.
The Select Committee was informed that the last dezoning exercise on the Island had arisen following Local Government re-organisation in 1974 with Sandown, Shanklin, Ventnor, Freshwater and Yarmouth merging into a South Wight zone. Officers expressed the view that the public were not generally aware of how the present zoning system worked.
The Chairman invited the representatives of the Isle of Wight Taxi Proprietors Association to the meeting. These were Mrs J Rounsevell, Mr D White, Mr I Porter, Mr R Coombes and Mr N McGrath. The representatives were invited to put forward their concerns as to the effects that dezoning would have on the service provided to the public. They considered that dezoning would not lead to reduced fares and that some stands would become congested with others not being utilised. The ability to prove unmet demand for future licensing applications would be lost. Concern was also expressed by the Association’s representatives as to the public awareness of the consultation exercise that had been undertaken by the Council and the information provided as part of this.
The Head of Consumer Protection indicated that the Association had been kept fully advised of the consultation process and had been given advanced copies of the material utilised. The Council would be required to submit a case for dezoning to the Secretary of State for Transport and obtain approval if dezoning was supported. The experiences of other Authorities that had recently dezoned had been taken into account. The Select Committee was concerned that although Officers had referred to the most recent instance of dezoning in Hereford, which previously had a zoning system similar to that on the Island, insufficient evidence had been obtained as to the experiences learnt following this.
The Portfolio Holder for Transport indicated the important part that taxis could play in providing public transport and this was recognised in the Local Transport Plan.
The Select Committee was aware that if the Council dezoned then it could not rezone at a later date. Members considered that whilst the principle of dezoning should be supported there was a need to undertake a final phase of public consultation highlighting some of the issues that had been raised during the meeting. This would ensure that the implications of dezoning were fully understood before a decision was taken by the Executive.
RESOLVED :
THAT the Executive be recommended, after a further consultation process, that a single zone for taxi licensing on the Isle of Wight be adopted and that a formal submission to this effect be presented to the Secretary of State for Transport.
36. BUDGET MONITORING REPORT AS AT END OF SEPTEMBER
The Select Committee was advised of the latest budget position on both revenue and capital expenditure for the services coming within its remit. There were no areas of concern and it was noted that the capital provision made for fire protection provision would shortly be utilised.
RESOLVED :
THAT the report be noted.
CHAIRMAN