Agenda item

To consider the report of the Environmental Health and Licensing Manager.

The Principal Licensing Officer presented the report to consider amending the current taxi policy to include rear loading wheelchair accessible vehicles. Members were provided with an overview of the representations received, and were referred to the advantages for rear loading vehicles, as detailed in the report. He also referred Members to a written representation received from the Chairman of the Exeter St David’s Taxi Association.

Following the introduction of the 2015 Taxi Policy, side loading wheelchair accessible vehicles had been considered better for health and safety reasons and more dignified for the passengers. The Policy further advocated that all existing rear loading Hackney vehicles, would need to be replaced with Euro 6, emission standard, side loading vehicles by 2020. It was the opinion of the taxi trade, that there were advantages for using rear loading vehicles and had requested that the policy be amended to allow replacement vehicles to include the Euro 6, emission standard, rear loading vehicles.

The Principal Licensing Officer discussed the views of a focus group commissioned by ‘Living Options Devon’, which had evaluated the advantages and disadvantages of each type of wheelchair accessible taxi. There had been a preference for rear loading vehicles, but health and safety assessments had considered, the side loading option, to still be preferable. The Licensing Authority was, sympathetic to the needs of the taxi trade, and considered having a mixed fleet of ‘Euro 6’ side loading and ‘Euro 6 rear’ loading vehicles, would be the preferred policy amendment.

In response to questions from Members, the Principal Licensing Officer and the Environmental Health and Licensing Manager, explained:-

·         A change to the policy would enable the fleet to have both side loading and rear loading, wheelchair accessible vehicles. No change would mean, that the rear loading Hackney Carriage vehicles would need to be replaced with side loading Euro 6 vehicles by 2020;

·         The focus group undertaken by ‘Living Options Devon’ had worked with wheelchair users, looking at a variety of vehicles. There had been recognition that different users would use both vehicle types, but rear loading vehicles were the favoured option for high sided wheelchair users;

·         The taxi fleet consisted of 50% saloon and 50% wheel chair accessible vehicles. The wheel chair accessible vehicles would be split between 25% side loading and 25% rear loading vehicles;

·         The policy change, would not alter the current policy regarding emissions. 

Members discussed amending the policy, commenting that: the majority of wheel chair users, had chosen rear loading vehicles for safety reasons; it was important to hear the views of the taxi trade; the Licensing Committee needed to ensure the needs and safety of the public were met; having greater flexibility in the policy would ensure there was more choice for wheelchair passengers when being loaded and unloaded.

The Chair expressed his thanks to the Principal Licensing Officer for the hard work undertaken in writing the report.

Following a proposal from Councillor Wright and seconded by Councillor Sills, Members voted unanimously for option A, as detailed in the report recommendation.

RESOLVED that the Licensing Committee approve the amendment to the Taxi Policy to allow existing rear loading Hackney carriage vehicles, to be replaced with Euro 6 emission standard rear loading vehicles, and that the Taxi Policy, Hackney carriage vehicle specification be amended accordingly.