Agenda item

To receive a report giving details of the outcomes of the Taxi Task and Finish Group.

The Committee received a report containing feedback information on the work of the Taxi Task and Finish Group.  Officers tabled a revised recommendation to this item.

Julia O’Brien, Principal Officer – Compliance and Enforcement, presented the report.  She stated that a Taxi Task and Finish Group had been set up with Members of the Licensing and Appeals Committee, Licensing Officers and representatives from the trade to address issues raised by the trade. 

Julia O’Brien stated that the report contained the minutes of the two meetings of the Task and Finish Group, recommendations resulting from the two meetings and a paper submitted by the trade at the last Task and Finish Group.

During the discussion of the item the following comments were made:

·           The Chairman stated that the Taxi Task and Finish Group was very effective and had facilitated the communication with the trade.  He was of the opinion that the group should continue;

·           In relation to the issue of the 24 hour taxi signage in Twyford Station, Councillor Ferris stated that the Planning Enforcement Officer had written to the operator to advise that as this was a conservation area, it required a planning application. The operator was asked to either take down the sign or apply for planning application;

·           Councillor Fishwick asked that the recommendation number three included consideration of the introduction of electric vehicles;

·           Councillor Burgess stated that it was not clear to drivers what had been agreed in the policy.  Julia O’Brien stated that the policy had been adopted, however it had come back to the Committee for further clarifications;

·           Councillor Fishwick asked which legislation had been used by Reading to impose the bus lane traffic order restriction and what the reasons for the restriction were.  Sean Murphy, Public Protection Partnership Manager stated that Officers had been unable to find the relevant report.  Julia O’Brien stated that she had emailed the Traffic Department in Reading about this and was awaiting for a response.

Councillor Burgess proposed to phase the increase in fees for taxis and private hire vehicles for 2019/20 in three years instead of two years as proposed in the recommendation.  Sean Murphy pointed out that any recommendations made by this Committee were subject to Executive approval.

Members debated both options and most considered that phasing it out in three years represented a small amount of money in the Council’s overall budget.  Upon being put to the vote the Committee decided to recommend that the fees to taxis and private hire vehicles for 2019/20 be phased in three years.

RESOLVED That:

1)     The Committee notes the content of this report which contains the main points from the two meetings held of the Task and Finish Group and the minutes and appendices;

2)     The Task and Finish Group be made a semi-permanent liaison group of Members, Officers and the trade (to include Hackney Carriage, Private Hire, School Vehicles and Drivers and Private Hire Operators) having recognised the benefit of face to face discussions, to meet as often as required;

3)     The Group initially looks at vehicle ages, electric vehicles, height standards and tariffs as representations have been received from the Wokingham Hackney Carriage Association, and makes any recommendations to the following meeting of the Licensing and Appeals Committee;

4)     The fees for Taxi and Private Hire Vehicles for 2019/20 should be phased in three years.