Issue - meetings

To consider the attached report of the Strategic Director (Corporate and Regulatory).

The Strategic Director (Corporate and Regulatory) and the Licensing Manager presented the report on the Hackney Carriage Numbers – Unmet Demand Survey.

Members were advised that in accordance with the provisions of the relevant legislation Dover District Council currently limited the number of Hackney Carriage licences to 69 for the district. The limitation of Hackney Carriage numbers was only permitted where the Licensing Authority was satisfied that there was no significant unmet demand in its area.

The Council’s most recent unmet demand survey had identified a significant unmet demand in respect of wheelchair-accessible vehicles and the Cabinet had consequently been asked to agree an additional 5 Hackney Carriage Licences for wheelchair-accessible vehicles.

Members raised the following points during the discussion:

·         Whether the restrictions on the age of the vehicle were relaxed for wheelchair accessible vehicles given the cost of purchasing it and if so, whether these details were known to operators.

The Licensing Manager advised that this was the case with wheelchair accessible vehicles which could operate for up to 12 years with a potential option for an additional 2 years.

·         That there were difficulties getting taxis during the school run. Members were advised that there was a national shortage of taxi drivers since the end of the pandemic.

·         The definition used by the Council as Licensing Authority for accessible vehicles and what consultation had been undertaken with stakeholders. Councillor H M Williams read out a letter from the Chair of the Dover District Disability Association on the matter.

The Licensing Manager advised that the starting point for the Council’s definition of an accessible vehicle was one that a wheelchair could enter.

·         What controls the Council as the Licensing Authority had over the distribution of taxis in the district. Members were informed that since the ending of zoning this was not an area the Council had any control.

·         Whether the decrease in the number of accessible vehicles in the district was indicative of market failure and as a consequence whether the option of delimiting had been considered. Members were advised that the Unmet Demand Survey would be relied on for any delimiting and that did not find sufficient evidence to support such a move. Additionally, the limits on the number of vehicles allowed the Council as the Licensing Authority to focus on tackling the issue of a lack of accessible vehicles whereas delimiting would remove this option.

·         The lack of alternative providers such as Uber in the district. Members were advised that no application had been received from Uber to operate in the district.

The Chairman asked that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee receive an update in 6 months concerning the level of take up of the 5 additional wheelchair accessible Hackney Carriage vehicle licenses.

To consider the attached report of the Strategic Director (Corporate and Regulatory).

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Transport, Licensing and Regulatory Services

It was agreed that an additional five Hackney Carriage Licences be issued to wheelchair-accessible vehicles.