Agenda item

To consider a report giving an update on the work of the Taxis Liaison Group.

The Taxis Liaison Group Update report was presented by Karen Court, Senior Licensing Officer Public Protection Partnership.

Karen Court stated that the last meeting of the Group had taken place on 10 September 2020, and was attended by three Members of the Licensing and Appeals Committee and two members of the taxi trade.

Karen Court stated that the main points of discussion at the last meeting were:

·           Fees – there had been an agreement to reduce the fees and this had already been implemented.  There were no further proposals on fees.  The audit exercise was being arranged by Sean Murphy.

·           Age of vehicles – the Committee was being asked to consider temporarily suspending the current age limits on vehicles.  It was suggested that this period be of 12 months with a defined start and end time, provided that the vehicles passed the hackney carriage and private hire vehicle test in addition to the standard MOT test and RAC test for older vehicles;

·           Height of vehicles – the condition of height had been imposed to ensure compliance with Section 165 of the Equality Act 2010 (passengers on wheelchairs), it was not recommended that the Committee put forward any proposal to amend these dimensions;

·           Taxi ranks – the service was working with Traffic Management.  Traffic Management had confirmed that the Broad Street ranks were operational from 19 September 2020, this included the rank outside Natwest Bank and the two west of the bus stops.  Additionally, there would be two new temporary evening ranks in Wokingham Market Place on the loading bays outside Boots and WH Smith.  Drivers were being advised and kept up to date with information about the ranks and the situation in relation to Covid-19.

The Chairman stated that the taxi trade was facing significant difficulties at the moment due to the current pandemic, with loss of business and competition with Uber.  It was the Council’s intention to help the trade as much as possible during this difficult time.

Some of the comments made during the discussion of the item are listed below.

Fees

·           Councillor Burgess believed that it was disingenuous to say that there were no proposals from the drivers in relation to fees.  She believed that the onus was on the Council to produce a line by line audit report on the methodology;

·           Sean Murphy clarified that this was in relation to the tariffs that drives charged for their services;

·           In response to a question Karen Court stated that two dates to review the fees had been proposed to the trade;

·           Councillor Ferris asked if this Committee would be considering a reduction in fees during the pandemic period.  Sean Murphy stated that the fees would be discussed at the meeting in November, including options around reductions (which could be applied retrospectively);

·           Sean Murphy confirmed that the reductions that were agreed last year had been implemented retrospectively;

·           Councillor Ferris urged the Committee to consider the fact that during the pandemic, the trade had seen its business reduced to 10-15% of what it normally was.  Therefore, a reduction on fees during this period should be considered;

·           Sean Murphy offered to bring information on the cost of offering a reduction on fees to the next meeting for the Committee to consider.

Age of vehicles

·           Councillor Burgess stated that the fees were onerous to drivers.  She stated that a line by line review of the methodology had been asked for around one year ago;

·           Karen Court stated that two potential meeting dates had been proposed to the trade to continue discussions with the Group;

·           Councillor Ferris stated that the Committee should consider a temporary reduction on the fees, in recognition of the difficult circumstances being faced by the trade during the current pandemic;

·           Sean Murphy stated that the fees would be discussed at the next meeting.  He stated that consideration should be given to the fees for this year and for next year.  He stated that a reduction was implemented last year, and that it was possible to offer a retrospective reduction;

Age of vehicles

·           Councillor Hobbs was in favour of extending the age of vehicles during this period, however she believed that the RAC checks should continue;

·           In response to a question Karen Court stated that it was up to the Committee to decide on the age of vehicles and the RAC test condition;

·           Councillor Burgess stated that RAC checks were expensive, she believed that during this current situation this condition should be suspended as vehicles were still subject to tests;

·           In response to a question Karen Court stated that RAC checks were more detailed and high level than MOT tests;

·           Councillor Burgess pointed out that the RAC test was only required for higher aged vehicles in order to extend their life;

·           Sean Murphy pointed out that due to the loss of trade, vehicles were not doing their usual mileage, this had been much reduced;

·           Councillor Fishwick proposed that the age of vehicles be extended and a suspension of the RAC check for a period of 12 months, from 1 October 2020 to 30 September 2021, and that this measures be kept under review;

·           Councillor Loyes asked how many vehicles in the fleet were affected by the 15 year age limit.  Officers agreed to find out and report back on this;

·           Councillor Shepherd-DuBey believed that it was important to know how many vehicles would be affected by the 15 year age limit;

·           Councillor Burgess seconded Councillor Fishwick’s proposal;

·           Councillor Ferris believed that it was important to put some measures in place to help the taxi trade during this time of the pandemic;

·           Councillor Firmager was in favour of the proposal, especially in view of the fact that vehicles were not having the wear and tear that they would normally have.

Upon being put to the vote, there was general agreement from the Committee that the trade should be supported during this time by extending the age limit and suspending the RAC checks for a period of 12 months, from 1 October 2020 to 30 September 2021, to be kept under review (Councillor Hobbs abstained from the vote).

Height of vehicle

·           In response to a question, Karen Court stated that the height of vehicle condition had been imposed in order to make sure that hackney carriages were able to take a wheelchair passenger.  The service recommended that no changes be made to this condition.  However, the trade had been asking that the height be reduced to enable different vehicles which were not wheelchair accessible to be used as hackney carriages;

·           Councillor Burgess stated that the trade had been lobbying to reduce the height requirement for a long time.  She stated that other local authorities seemed to have a requirement of wheelchair accessibility, without stating the height of the vehicle.  She agreed that hackney carriages should be wheelchair accessible but questioned whether 54’ was the correct height requirement;

·           The Chairman believed that this requirement was linked to the Equalities Act;

·           Sean Murphy stated that the 54’ requirement came about as a result of trying to ensure that a passenger on a wheelchair would be able to enter the vehicle seating in a wheelchair through the gap in the back of the vehicle.  The 54’ was introduced as a result of it coming to light, some years ago, that there were many vehicles in the fleet that were not wheelchair compatible.  At the time, the vehicles that were affected by this were given five year to become wheelchair accessible;

·           Councillor Richards stated that prior to the 54’ requirement there had been an indication of which vehicles could be used as hackney carriage, however drivers did not want to be limited to a number of makes of vehicles.  Upon inspection, a lot of the modified vehicles in the fleet that were inspected, failed to comply with wheelchair accessibility; consequently a recommendation was made that a height measurement inside of the vehicle should be used as a condition instead of naming makes of vehicles;

·           Sean Murphy stated that there were purpose built vehicles available which were suitable, most issues were in relation to converted vehicles;

·           Councillor Ferris stated that a comprehensive review of the height of vehicles had taken place previously, and the vehicles affected still had three years to adapt to the condition.  In his opinion it was important to be clear to drivers as to what the requirement is;

·           Councillor Shepherd-DuBey stated that it was important to ensure the standards of hackney carriages within the fleet;

·           Councillor Kerr proposed that this issue be brought back to the Committee with a review of the methodology that was used to determine the 54’ height requirement, and to decide if 54’ is the right height; she was seconded by Councillor Burgess;

·           Councillor Soane agreed that it could be confusing trying to find a vehicle that was compliant with the requirement, he also stated that there were other issues to be considered, such as the gradient of the ramp to enter the vehicle;

·           Councillor Fishwick referenced the Aylesbury Vale’s condition (page 11 of the supplementary agenda) and asked if this was the standard that should be used in Wokingham;

·           Sean Murphy confirmed that purposed built vehicles were usually compliant to wheelchair access.  He suggested circulating information to Members when available and formally reviewing the height issue at the March meeting of the Committee and; Members were in agreement with this suggestion.

After a robust debate, Members agreed to review the height of vehicles at the March meeting, with information about the methodology that was used to determin the 54’, a comparison exercise with other local authorities and other possible alternatives.

In response to a question the Chairman stated that the Taxis Liaison Group was an informal group which comprised Members of the Licensing and Appeals Committee and members of the trade.  The frequency of meetings depended on the issues arising for discussion.

RESOLVED That:

1)     Proposals around reducing the fees during the pandemic would be considered at the next meeting in November;

2)     The current age limit be extended for a period 12 months, from 1 October 2020 to 30 September 2021;

3)     The RAC check requirement be suspended for a period of 12 months, from 1 October 2020 to 30 September 2021;

4)     These measures will be kept under review; and

5)     The height of vehicles will be reviewed at the March meeting of the Committee