Agenda item - Hackney Carriage / Private Hire Trade Ethnicity Monitoring

Report of the Head of Regulatory Services (copy attached|)

RESOLVED – That the Committee note the results of Ethnicity Monitoring.

31.1    The Committee considered a report of the Head of Regulatory Services setting out the results of the Ethnicity Monitoring of the Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Trade for 2012/13.

31.2    It was explained that all applications received by the Hackney Carriage Office for the licensing of vehicles and drivers are monitored for ethnic background. The results of this monitoring were set out in appendix A to the report. Ethnic monitoring was undertaken to ensure that the waiting list was maintained and operated in a fair and transparent way as recommended by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

31.3    Councillor Simson welcomed the report stating that it was encouraging to see that drivers were declaring their ethnicity, noting that it was disappointing to see that female taxi drivers were relatively few in number. Councillor Bennett stated that in the past there had been a ladies only taxi company although unfortunately it appeared  that this was no longer operating.

31.4    Councillor Deane concurred with the comments made by Councillor Simson stating that whilst there was a long and varied list indicating driver ethnicity, a number fell into the group designated as “other” and that it might be possible to simplify the existing categories. Councillor Simson agreed stating that some of the information appeared to be overly detailed. In answer to questions it was ascertained that it was possible for driver to appear in more than one category. The Head of Regulatory Services stated that the categories were self selecting in that drivers opted to place themselves into a particular category and a weakness of the system was that there could be some “double accounting.”

31.5    Councillor Duncan referred to the number of groups represented by the data, some of whom would be eligible to vote in EU elections. He enquired regarding whether arrangements were in place to ensure that drivers were aware of their voting and other rights. The Head of Regulatory Service explained that talks were held for new drivers to ensure that they were briefed on a number of issues and that issues such as voting rights would be included within that.

31.6    Councillor Powell, the Chair, noted the points that had been raised stating that it would be appreciated if the changes highlighted could be made to the way information was presented in future reports if practicable.

31.7    RESOLVED – That the Committee notes the results of ethnicity monitoring of the Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Trade for 2012/13.