Agenda item - Hackney Carriage Unmet Demand Report

RESOLVED:

2.2 Recommends to continue to increase the number of hackney carriage vehicle licences issued by the council by 5 annually, such licences to be issued in May each year commencing in May 2023.

2.4 Recommend any additional licences issued under 2.2, above should be issued in accordance with the conditions attached to the Brighton & Hove City Council Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licence Waiting List and to vehicles which are constructed or adapted and configured to carry passengers seated in

wheelchairs or; vehicles which are fully electric or; plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicles the type and design of the vehicle to be agreed by the Executive Director of Neighbourhoods, Communities & Housing.

15.1 Jim Whitelegg introduced the report on page 11 of the agenda and invited Ian Millership to give a presentation.

15.2 Ian Millership gave a presentation on the item.

15.3 Councillor Simson was informed that:

·       The zero-tolerance policy referred specifically to non-hackney carriages parking in taxi ranks.

·       The unmet demand paragraph should be clearer in that it refers to the fact that there is there is no evidence of a significant unmet demand.

15.4 Councillor O’Quinn was informed that:

·       A lot of long term taxi drivers have brought their retirements forward.

·       Driver numbers are down due to a number of factors including moving to more stable jobs, and the unsociable hours of driving taxis.

·       Drivers of private hire companies rent their cars so are generally more flexible and don’t have to make enough to upkeep their vehicles.

·       Hackney Carriage drivers make more money in the day time, reducing the number of drivers at night.

15.5 Councillor Moonan was informed that:

·       There are enough vehicles, just not enough drivers to meet demand.

·       No restrictions on private hire or hackney carriage drivers, just the amount of vehicles.

·       There is no legal way to enforce a license plate holder to use their vehicle.

15.6 Councillor Ebel was informed that it is expected of taxi drivers to take action and find an appropriate vehicle and driver to accommodate disabled passengers, if they can’t meet the passengers needs.

15.7 Councillor Knight raised that the fact that people are afraid to whistleblow about inaccessible taxis indicates a wider issue of disability discrimination, and suggested that it should be encouraged that people complain anonymously if they have faced discrimination. Martin Seymour confirmed he would look into ways to make it easier for people to complain.

15.8 Councillor Phillips raised that there should be easier ways to tip drivers when paying cashless.

15.9 Councillor Theobald was informed that the Preston Park station is a small use station, so taxi drivers would be unlikely to wait there for passengers. An option called Train Taxi can be used which gives numbers to phone to organise pickups at smaller stations.

RESOLVED

That Committee:

2. Recommended to continue to increase the number of hackney carriage vehicle licences issued by the council by 5 annually, such licences to be issued in May each year commencing in May 2023.

4. Recommend any additional licences issued under 2.2, above should be issued in accordance with the conditions attached to the Brighton & Hove City Council Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licence Waiting List and to vehicles which are constructed or adapted and configured to carry passengers seated in

wheelchairs or; vehicles which are fully electric or; plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicles the type and design of the vehicle to be agreed by the Executive Director of Neighbourhoods, Communities & Housing.