The Corporate Director – Operational and Partnership Services submitted a report, which gave the Committee feedback with regard to wheelchair accessible taxis in the County Borough.

The Team Manager – Licensing advised that as a result of a request from Committee at its meeting of 13 July 2017, specific questions on wheelchair accessible taxis were added to the licensing consultation  on taxis.

She then outlined certain information with regard to the consultation of the Licensing Authority, and the various outcomes of this, as was detailed in paragraphs 4.1 to 4.3 of the report.

The Team Manager – Licensing emphasised that there was a small percentage of responses to the consultation, ie which numbered only 35 in total, and also the lack of further qualifying comments. However, she added there were some common themes that arose from the consultation, as follows:-

·         Older purpose built vehicles (eg London Cabs) were available on the  market and should be considered for licensing;

·         Balancing the higher cost of purchasing a wheelchair accessible vehicle with for work for this type of vehicle;

·         Other wheelchair accessible providers are available outside the taxi sector, and

·         Wheelchair accessible vehicles should be easily identifiable to the public.

She continued by advising Members that in order to ensure that wheelchair passengers do not face discrimination when travelling, the Licensing Committee had approved the proposal to publish and maintain a list of ‘designated vehicles’ in accordance with provisions of the Equality Act 2010. A provision of the Act, placed a legal requirement on drivers of all licensed and ‘designated’ hackney carriage and private hire vehicles, to carry passengers in their wheelchairs, to provide reasonable assistance to those passengers, and prohibits taxi drivers from charging extra for the fare.

A further provision of the Act provided local authorities with powers to publish a list of ‘designated vehicles’ ie taxi’s, that are wheelchair accessible, and the Licensing Section had written to all such proprietors of vehicles with this provision, advising them of their intention to include their vehicle on the list and that no appeals had been submitted.  . There was also provision in the Act added the Team Manager – Licensing, for certain drivers of these ‘designated vehicles,’ to be exempt from these requirements of the Act, for example if they had a medical condition preventing them to do so.,

The Team Manager – Licensing, added that all hackney carriage/private hire drivers had been notified of these new requirements, and that they could request an exemption on grounds such as those mentioned above, if this was necessary.

She then further added, that a list of designated vehicles would be published on the Council website on 1 April next, and then updated as appropriate, on a monthly basis.

The Team Manager – Licensing concluded the report, by reminding Members that they had also been previously advised of the Welsh Government Consultation on reforming taxi legislation in Wales. A further report on this, would be provided once it had published more detailed proposals on the same.

A Member noted that only 35 taxi drivers had responded to the consultation. She asked what the percentage of this was when compared to the total number of drivers who had been contacted, (but had not responded).

The Team Manager – Licensing confirmed that 400 – 500 letters had been sent out to the trade, to which there had been 35 responses, which was approximately 7 to 8%.

A Member asked if any thought had been given to a training session being put in place for taxi drivers, in order that following this they would be in a position to cater for different passengers varying disabled needs and requirements.

The Team manager – Licensing confirmed that this formed part of the Driver Awareness Course (DAC) that all new taxi drivers had to attend (as new drivers).

A Member suggested that it should also be incumbent for existing drivers as well as new drivers to attend a DAC.

The Licensing Policy Officer confirmed that some research could be undertaken, in order to establish which existing drivers had completed the DAC, and those that had not, could be invited to a future(s) session, including those who had wheelchair accessible vehicles.

The Leader was disappointed with the level of response to the Licensing Authority’s consultation. He added that he felt it would be helpful if the list of ‘designated vehicles’ to be published on the Council’s website, could also be publicised. This would both increase public awareness and help with the engagement process with taxi drivers.

RESOLVED:                  That the report be noted.