Issue - meetings

Report number:     CAB/WS/20/056

Portfolio holder: Councillor Andy Drummond

Lead officers: David Collinson and Fiona Quinn

Resolved:

That:

1.       the maintaining of a two-zone system for hackney carriages in West Suffolk, be approved with a further review being undertaken within two years.

2.       The removal of the livery requirement for zone A (former Forest Heath) hackney carriages be approved, and a requirement for private hire vehicles not be introduced.

3.       The revised policy, as contained in Appendix A, which includes the proposals summarised in paragraphs 6.16 to 7.3 of Report number: CAB/WS/20/056, be approved.

4.       The inclusion of changes introduced by new national safety standards, as set out in section 4 of Report number: CAB/WS/20/056, be agreed.

5.       Delegated authority be given to the Assistant Director (Planning and Regulatory) to make any future minor amendments to the Policy, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Regulatory.

The Cabinet considered this report, which sought approval for a new Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Conditions Policy.

This item had been deferred at the last meeting of Cabinet held on 21 July 2020 to give officers the opportunity to the review the new statutory taxi and private hire vehicle standards, which had come into force that day, and to make any amendments to the proposed new policy, as necessary.

West Suffolk Council had responsibility for licensing hackney carriage and private hire vehicles, drivers and operators across the West Suffolk area. The current policies that governed the operation of hackney carriages and private hire vehicles, operators and drivers were agreed by Cabinet in February 2019 in preparation to become a single West Suffolk Council. At that point, some more significant changes were deferred to a later date.

Councillor Andy Drummond, Portfolio Holder for Regulatory, drew relevant issues to the attention of Cabinet.

Having considered the outcomes of the Unmet Demand Survey; feedback received from public consultation and from the taxi industry on the proposals contained in the proposed revised policy; and the implications of new national safety standards recently introduced by Government, the Cabinet considered the new policy was acceptable. Members felt that a measured approach had been taken working with the taxi trade, both to align the licensing terms and to introduce good practice, for the benefit of customers and the trade.

Particular discussion was held on the proposed maintaining of a two-zone system for hackney carriages in West Suffolk, with a further review to be undertaken within two years; and the removal of the livery requirement for zone A (former Forest Heath) hackney carriages with no requirement to be introduced for private hire vehicles. The officers’ rationale for making these recommendations was set out in paragraphs 6.13 to 6.16 of Report number: CAB/WS/20/056.

Members felt that with the added challenges and uncertainties connected with the coronavirus pandemic, it was unwise to make zone changes and impose livery requirements at the present time. Businesses needed support where possible and to make significant changes during this turbulent time could detrimentally impact on taxi companies and individual drivers’ livelihoods. Whilst a single zone was generally supported, the Cabinet considered it was prudent to maintain the existing two-zone system and review the situation within two years when the current challenges associated with Covid-19 may have eased.   

Resolved:

That:

1.       the maintaining of a two-zone system for hackney carriages in West Suffolk, be approved with a further review being undertaken within two years.

2.       The removal of the livery requirement for zone A (former Forest Heath) hackney carriages be approved, and a requirement for private hire vehicles not be introduced.

3.       The revised policy, as contained in Appendix A, which includes the proposals summarised in paragraphs 6.16 to 7.3 of Report number: CAB/WS/20/056, be approved.

4.       The inclusion of changes introduced by new national safety standards, as set out in section 4 of Report number: CAB/WS/20/056, be agreed.

5.       Delegated authority be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 160