Agenda and minutes

IN ATTENDANCE

Mr P Landau – LAPTA

Mr A Rashid – City Cabs

Mr K Gill – Leeds Taxi Owners Association

Mr B Heptinstall – Leeds Taxi Owners Association

Mr M Darwin – Head of Highways Development Services, LCC Planning Services,

Mr J Wigmore – Standards Board for England (observing)

Noting this was the last meeting of the Licensing and Regulatory Panel for the 2007/08 Municipal Year the Chair thanked all Members and officers for their assistance with the work of the Panel over the last 12 months. Additionally he extended congratulations to all Members of the Panel who had been successfully re-elected at the recent local council elections.

To declare any personal/prejudicial interests for the purpose of Section 81(3) of the Local Government Act 2000 and paragraphs 8 to 12 of the Members Code of Conduct

There were no declarations of interest

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors A Blackburn, Dowson, Dunn, Grayshon and Selby

Additional apologies were received from

Helen Franklin – LCC Acting Head of Highways Services

Gary Bartlett – LCC Chief Highways Officer

Howard Claxton – LCC Traffic Engineering Manager, Highways Services

Keith Darch – LCC Principal Engineer, Highways Services

Clare McCall - LCC Community Safety

Paul Stephens - LCC Chief Economic Services Officer

Mr Tim McSharry – Access Committee for Leeds

Mr David Littlewood - Access Committee for Leeds

Mr Paul Roberts – WYPTE

Mr Des Broster – Section Head, LCC Taxi & Private Hire Licensing

Mr Martyn Johnson – LCC Taxi & Private Hire Licensing

To confirm the minutes of the following meetings as a correct record:

a)  8^th January 2008

b)  13^th February 2008

(Copies attached)

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meetings held 8^th January and 13^th February 2008 respectively be agreed as a correct record

To consider the report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) providing an update on the issues raised by the Special Meeting of the Licensing and Regulatory Panel held 13^th February 2008 and the progress made so far

(Report attached)

The Panel considered the report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) which drew together updates from various parties on the progress so far with each individual issue raised by the Special Meeting in February 2008 called specifically to deal with Hackney Carriage issues in Leeds.

Mr Darwin briefly explained the role of highways services in the planning process for new developments in Leeds which included seeking kerb side provision for various forms of transport.

The Panel noted with regret the lack of attendance by key LCC officers at the meeting to present progress reports from within respective departments and then went onto discuss the matters raised in the report in further detail

Ranks at new developments - Mr Heptinstall commented that the planning process did not have regard to taxi rank provision. He recollected only one rank – at the White Rose Centre – being implemented as part of a new development in the last 30 years. Mr Darwin responded that highways provided wherever possible, pick-up/drop-off points outside new hotels in accordance with LCC policy.

• The Panel, noting that pick-up/drop-off points could be utilised by private vehicles and both the HC and PH trade, supported a suggestion that LCC policy should be revised in order to ensure that new ranks be provided outside hotels instead of or in addition to pick-up/drop-off points
• The Panel requested Mr Darwin raise this matter with Mr S Speak, LCC Chief Strategy & Policy Officer and agreed a letter be sent directly to Mr Speak from the Panel

Shelters – information received from Mr Roberts of WYPTE was reported to the meeting regarding positive discussions held between METRO, T&PH Licensing and Highways on the installation of bus stop style shelters (including design; colour and signage) alongside further discussions on possible location of new ranks at existing or new bus stops, subject to appropriate funding. It was noted that Mr Roberts had reiterated METRO’s commitment to improve facilities for taxi users with the proviso that this should not be to the detriment to bus operators and passengers

Update from Highways Services – Mr Heptinstall reported receipt of a report and schedule from Mr K Darch, principal engineer (traffic management) Highways Services. The report covered provision of ranks in the city centre; the design/legibility of taxi signs and contained a schedule of all the rank locations suggested previously by the HC Trade. The trade had discussed these with highways officers and the schedule set out the Departments’ response on likely future action. The report had been sent to, but not received by the Chair, and copied to Mr Heptinstall for information.

The Legal Adviser briefly outlined the contents of the report. Mr Heptinstall on behalf of the trade welcomed the progress made so far. The Panel, whilst acknowledging that positive steps to address the issue of taxi rank location had been taken, were concerned that this information had not been widely publicised and could have been presented as a formal late item to the whole Panel  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40.

To consider the report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) setting out the licensing transactions undertaken by the Taxi & Private Hire Licensing Section under officers delegated powers during the final quarter of 2007

(Report attached)

The Panel considered the report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) setting out the licensing transactions undertaken by the Taxi & Private Hire Licensing Section under officers delegated powers during the last quarter of 2007 and the first quarter of 2008. Two separate reports were presented to the Panel, however Members considered both items together and went onto discuss the following matters:

Private Hire Vehicle and Driver Suspensions – Members noted the numbers suspended were most likely due to the Policies previously agreed by the Panel which concentrated on the safety and suitability of the older element of the PH fleet, and those drivers caught illegally plying for hire

• Members welcomed the information but requested that future reports include a breakdown of the reasons for the suspensions plus detail of any prosecutions undertaken

Enforcement – The Panel and trade representatives discussed the importance of enforcement work in identifying PH drivers illegally plying for hire. It was noted that the T&PH Section had recently appointed more enforcement officers to provide a team of 12, however, there were 3500 PH vehicles in Leeds, and only so much could be done to address the problem of PH trade acting outside its’ remit – such as illegally ranking up at taxi ranks or plying for hire

Use of CCTV evidence – Members were advised that CCTV footage from static cameras could not be used in evidence against PH drivers illegally plying for hire as the images could not provide evidence beyond reasonable doubt in a court of law. Footage showing a potential customer requesting a fare which the PH driver then agreed to provide could be used – and enforcement officers did undertake operations with WYP using buttonhole cameras to capture film evidence.

Police support – Discussion on the support necessary from WYP to undertake enforcement action followed. Representatives reported on the increasing tension in the city centre at night between the HC and PH trades which they believed was caused by PH drivers illegally ranking and plying for hire. The representatives reported the HC Trade had offered to fund one additional police officer specifically to deal with the traffic problems, but this offer had not been taken up by WYP. Furthermore the Trade now sought the Panels’ support in seeking WYP assistance to deal with the increasing problems in the city centre

• The Chair advised representatives to write directly to the WYP Inspector with responsibility for the city centre, and to provide evidence of illegality in order for the police to take immediate action.
• Members agreed that, whilst they supported the trade, they could not provide WYP with the necessary evidence, however did agree that a letter be sent to the relevant Inspector on behalf of the Panel raising their own concerns about the current problems in the city centre.

Alternative direct action – Moving on, the Panel considered whether more immediate action could be taken when a driver was found to be acting illegally, such as the immediate suspension of a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41.