Agenda item

To consider the report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) on the outcome of the Unmet Demand Survey undertaken in respect of the number of Hackney Carriage Proprietor licences in Leeds

(Report attached)

The Panel considered the report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) on the outcome of the Unmet Demand Survey undertaken in respect of the number of Hackney Carriage Proprietor licences in Leeds.

The Survey stemmed from the report of Office of Fair Trading on the regulation of licensed Hackney Carriage (HC) and Private Hire (PH) vehicle services. Each local authority was asked to review its policy in respect of the setting of limits for the number of HC proprietor licences. Leeds undertook that review through the Scrutiny Board (Central and Corporate Functions) which conducted the first Survey and issued a report on the findings to the Executive Board in March 2005.

This second survey was conducted throughout 2008 by the Halcrow Group Ltd acting as independent consultants to the Council. Approximately 7000 questionnaires had been despatched to licensed HC and PH drivers and operators as part of the consultation process. 522 completed forms were returned.

A copy of the full report by Halcrow was included and Miss L Eccles attended the meeting to present the report. Miss Eccles outlined the methodology of the consultation undertaken during the Survey, the key results and conclusions. The Panel noted the Survey had concluded there was no evidence of significant unmet demand for HC in Leeds.

Members then discussed the following matters:

-  the anecdotal comment that release of further HC plates would have an adverse impact on existing drivers

-  impact on the HC trade of the loss of the Leeds Bradford International Airport contract to a PH provider

-  the comment that some members of the disabled community felt that their needs were not being met by the existing fleets. It was reported that 274 of the 537 HC fleet were wheelchair accessible compared to 40 of the 4190 PH fleet.

-  noted the perception of waiting times for vehicles to attend a request

-  fare prices compared to other core cities and whether this would suppress demand

The Panel invited then comments from interested parties and representatives of the trade and the following matters were noted:

-  desire of representatives of the Access Committee for Leeds to retain vehicle diversity within the HC fleet

-  ongoing consultation by the Access Committee for Leeds with user groups to quantify the transport needs of disabled and older persons

-  comment that the majority of the HC fleet remained based within the city centre, not the suburbs

-  anecdotal evidence that some customers with mobility difficulties preferred a saloon vehicle and some customers would wait longer than others for a preferred vehicle type, or trusted driver

Sgt Mynard of West Yorkshire Police briefly commented on the figures quoted in Halcrows’ findings regarding the number of drivers who felt unsafe in the city centre at night. Mr K Darch highlighted the recent works undertaken by LCC to introduce new and/or realigned ranks within the city and the approaches being made to Central Government for agreement to utilise bus stops as late night HC ranks once bus services cease.

The Panel recalled their previous discussions on city centre rank provision and concerns about transport and the night time economy. Members emphasised the need to continually monitor the usefulness of ranks and to pursue the possibility of using bus stops and bus corridors for the HC trade.

Members then considered each of the recommendations set out in the report and 

RESOLVED –

a)  To agree with the conclusions of the report that there is no significant unmet demand within the Leeds area and

b)  To continue with the Council’s current policy to limit the number of Hackney Carriage Proprietor Licences to 537.

c)  To determine that the next Unmet Demand Survey be completed no less than 3 years from the date of this meeting (i.e. By March 2013), as per current best practice guidelines

d)  To request that officers review the proportion of wheelchair accessible vehicles within both fleets, in consultation with the trade and other interested groups, with a view to seeking diversity of vehicle types which will ensure suitable provision for all service users, with particular regard to the elderly and disabled passengers. Panel noted this process would take a minimum of 12 months before officers could return with any proposals

e)  To thank Miss Eccles for her presentation