Agenda item - Hackney Carriage Unmet Demand Report

Report of the Executive Director, Neighbourhoods, Communities and Housing (copy attached)

18.1    The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director, Neighbourhoods, Communities and Housing requesting that Members give consideration to authorising officers to  undertake a Hackney Carriage “ Unmet Demand Survey” during 2018 in order to establish whether there was any unmet demand for Hackney Carriages.

18.2    It was noted that the survey would look at current policies and hackney carriage provision in the context of other similar authorities in England with particular emphasis on the level of wheelchair accessible provision and the percentage of wheelchair accessible vehicles in the fleet.

18.3    RESOLVED – (1) That the Committee approves the commission an unmet demand survey to be undertaken during 2018. Any survey and report to compare current policies and provision with similar authorities in England and to provide evidence in relation to the perceived or actual problem of availability of wheelchair accessible vehicles and the percentage of wheelchair accessible vehicles in the hackney carriage fleet including consultation with local stakeholders;

            (2) That the Committee confirm their support for the current restricted numbers policy for hackney carriage vehicles with managed growth of five additional plates issued annually to wheelchair accessible vehicles; and

            (3) That the Committee note that this policy will be reviewed following the outcome of the unmet demand survey.