Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Dobbs, Allen, Peach, Ash and Khan.

Councillor Shearman was in attendance as a substitute.

There were no declarations of interest.

The minutes of the meeting held on 17 November 2011 were approved as a true and accurate record.

          The Licensing Manager addressed the Committee and advised that it had been identified that further consultation with trade members was required to be undertaken prior to the recommendations outlined in the report being approved by the Licensing Committee.

          The Licensing Manager apologised for any inconvenience and requested that the item be deferred to a later date.

          RESOLVED: (Unanimously)

         The Committee agreed to defer the item to a later date. 

          Reasons for the decision:

          It was agreed to defer the item to enable further consultation to be undertaken with trade members.

          Members took the opportunity to question the Licensing Officer about various issues with regards to taxi enforcement and vehicle licensing. Topics discussed included:

·         The two different types of trade, those being private and hackney, and the different vehicles utilised;

·         The current age limits of the vehicles and the tests undertaken to ensure they were roadworthy;

·         The age limits of vehicles in other Local Authorities;

·         The average mileage clocked up by vehicles in Peterborough. Members were advised that further investigation would be made on this point;

·         The number of taxis operating in the Peterborough area. Members were further advised that this point would also be investigated further;

·         The cost effectiveness of the vehicles as they aged;

·         The rigorous conditions imposed by the Licensing Authority on both private and hackney businesses;

·         The misconception that the public did not realise the difference between private hire and hackney carriages;

·         The number of taxis parking along Broadway and the subsequent overflow spaces which had been implemented, with success, in order to help with the congestion;

·         The charges faced by taxi drivers when trading in places such as New Road and the train station; and

·         The percentage of taxis that were able to carry disabled passengers.