Agenda item - Chair's Communications

The Chair gave the following communications:

Setting fees – important that we recover costs of providing the service especially given the overall budget position

Taxi Enforcement Report which includes a spread setting out the enforcement action taken over the last year.

These drivers are the exception and majority of drivers do a brilliant job, going above and beyond their responsibilities. An example of this was some positive feedback the team received recently… 

“Hello. I wanted to let you know about one of your taxi drivers today. He is an absolute credit to Brighton - we witnessed him helping out a blind man on Brighton seafront: ensuring that he was safe and that his other customers were happy to share a taxi with the man who was visibility distressed and appeared to be lost. Such a great and touching thing to do. My mum is registered blind and this gesture meant a lot me and my wife. Thank you to him.”

And the team have passed on those comments to the driver. I would like the committee to note our thanks to the driver on his good work.

Myself and Cllr Sheard have spoken individually to all the main taxi trade reps which was really useful and ensured that all reps have had copies of the proposals around the proposed penalty points scheme ahead of the formal consultation period. I would like to reassure members of the committee that this is a genuine consultation and we will listen to both the trade and local residents on this before making any decision. We intend to continue to liaise on a wide range of issues that were raised with us including parking enforcement issues where non taxis stop in ranks for example.