Agenda item - Hackney Carriage Accessibility Policy Review

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Agenda item

Hackney Carriage Accessibility Policy Review

Report of the  Head of Regulatory Services (copy attached)

Decision:

RESOLVED - That Committee approve amendments to the Hackney Carriage Accessibility Policy (Appendix 1); specifically to require additional single ramps to be provided for all wheelchair accessible vehicles and allow a minimum capacity for a WAV of wheel chair, passenger, passenger and luggage.

Minutes:

32.1         The Committee considered a report of the Head of Regulatory Services reviewing and seeking to amend the existing Hackney Carriage Accessibility Policy.

 

32.2    It was explained that the Committee had endorsed the current Hackney Carriage Accessibility Policy at its meeting on 27 June 2013. As a result of further consultation with the Taxi Forum, The Fed Centre for Independent Living, Manufactures and Suppliers of vehicles it had become necessary to make some changes to the existing policy and to be consistent with the Blue Book. Officers had also organised a WAV day where disabled members of the FED could look at the existing fleet of wheelchair accessible vehicles and potential new vehicles.

 

32.3    Some vehicles were only supplied with or only have parallel ramps rather than single ramp, this had become a contentious issue. The FED centre for independent living were strongly of the view that single ramps were safer as they were less likely to tip. Some drivers had explained however that parallel ramps reduced the risk of accidents in particular situations. Some vehicles were supplied with parallel ramps or parallel and single ramps. Incorrect manual handling was one of the most common causes of injury at work and should be avoided or reduced, so far as is reasonably practicable. Drivers needed to use equipment provided for their safety properly.To resolve the issue the policy has been amended to:

 

“The vehicle should normally have a single ramp which can accommodate all four wheels of a wheelchair to load and unload persons wishing to travel in the vehicle whilst remaining seated in their wheelchair. The vehicle may have in addition, parallel ramps where the proprietor requires them for safety reasons or to meet specific needs of their passengers”

 

Whilst promoting single ramps as the desired option this would accommodate existing vehicles and new vehicles where the manufacturer / supplier would only supply vehicles with parallel ramps.

 

32.4    Another conflict between the current blue book and hackney carriage accessibility policy related to defining the minimum capacity of a wheelchair accessible vehicle. The policy needed to allow modern, versatile, specially adapted vehicles that were popular with drivers and passengers. Some rear loading, small car-derived vans, like Peugeot Premier Partners or VW Caddymax, were specially adapted to offer quick and easy wheelchair accessibility with passenger and luggage carrying capacity. In practical situations, a single carer was often sufficient support for a passenger. It is proposed therefore that the minimum licensing standard should be set at a vehicle capacity of a passenger in a wheelchair, a second passenger and luggage. The WAV day had demonstrated that having space for at least 2 carers would exclude the small rear loading vehicles so this had been changed to 1. There were situations where specialist, configured vehicles were required, in response to market need, for instance school transport and it was proposed therefore to amend the delegation in the policy to make reference to the Executive Director, Environment, Development and Housing to be consistent with the Blue Book. The Chair had written to a number of manufacturers, converters and suppliers of wheelchair accessible vehicles asking various questions relating to their design and the level of consultation which took place between them at the design stage. Disappointingly only three responses had been received and were set out in Appendix 3 to the report. The WAV demonstration day had provided an opportunity with those who had different disabilities including the ambulant disabled to access the different types of vehicle available. The demonstration day had shown that no vehicle was suitable for all types of wheelchair, some users preferred the rear loaders and some the side loaders.

 

32.4    The Committee was invited to consider the recommendations with a view to providing consistency between the hackney carriage accessibility policy and the Blue Book.

 

32.5    Councillor Simson welcomed the report thanking the Chair for her input in requesting that this update be provided to the Committee. Councillor Marsh stated that she was also pleased to endorse the recommendations set out in the report

 

32.6    Councillor Gilbey sought clarification regarding arrangements to assist wheelchair and other disabled individuals when exiting a vehicle.

 

32.7    The Chair, Councillor Powell commended the report which would help to ensure that there was a mixed fleet across the city.

 

32.8    RESOLVED - That Committee approve amendments to the Hackney Carriage Accessibility Policy (Appendix 1); specifically to require additional single ramps to be provided for all wheelchair accessible vehicles and allow a minimum capacity for a WAV of wheel chair, passenger, passenger and luggage.

Supporting documents:

 


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