Issue - meetings

Report No: EXC/SA/19/009

Shadow Executive (Cabinet) Members: Susan Glossop and Lance Stanbury

Lead Officer: David Collinson

RESOLVED:

That:

(1)     the harmonised Taxi Policy Handbook for West Suffolk Council, as contained in Appendix A to Report No: EXC/SA/19/009, be adopted, including the following key areas:

a.    Continuing the two existing licensing areas (including livery)

b.    Aligning licensing requirements for the age of taxi vehicles

c.    Other proposed changes, as detailed in Report No: EXC/SA/19/009;

(2)     the Taxi Policy Handbook be reviewed by West Suffolk Council within two years to review licensing areas across West Suffolk; and

(3)     a public consultation on the revocation of hackney carriage byelaws be undertaken so that the matter can be considered at an early meeting of West Suffolk Council.

The Shadow Executive (Cabinet) considered the above report, which sought approval for the new West Suffolk Council Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Taxi Conditions Policy Handbook.  

The draft Handbook, which was attached as Appendix A to the report and had been subject to public consultation, had been produced to harmonise the existing taxi policies of Forest Heath District Council and St Edmundsbury Borough Council in order to ensure this was in place following the creation of West Suffolk Council on 1 April 2019.

As some of the policy changes would be quite complex and varied to align, it was proposed that this policy handbook be approved for a transitional period to allow a more detailed review to be undertaken by West Suffolk Council within two years on the specific areas detailed in the report.  During this time however, a number of common principles would be upheld, as set out in paragraph 1.2.2 of the report.

Councillor Susan Glossop, one of the Shadow Executive (Cabinet) Members with the responsibility for Planning and Growth, drew relevant issues to the attention of the Shadow Executive, including that it was being proposed that the two existing licensing areas (including livery for the vehicles) should presently be continued, as detailed in Section 1.3; the licensing requirements for the age of taxi vehicles were to be aligned, as set out in Section 1.4; and other initial changes proposed, as detailed in the report, should be accepted.

The Shadow Executive (Cabinet) agreed to the proposed approach and looked forward to the detailed review within two years of the creation of West Suffolk Council.

RESOLVED:

That:

(1)     the harmonised Taxi Policy Handbook for West Suffolk Council, as contained in Appendix A to Report No: EXC/SA/19/009, be adopted, including the following key areas:

a.    Continuing the two existing licensing areas (including livery)

b.    Aligning licensing requirements for the age of taxi vehicles

c.    Other proposed changes, as detailed in Report No: EXC/SA/19/009;

(2)     the Taxi Policy Handbook be reviewed by West Suffolk Council within two years to review licensing areas across West Suffolk; and

(3)     a public consultation on the revocation of hackney carriage byelaws be undertaken so that the matter can be considered at an early meeting of West Suffolk Council.