Agenda item

To consider a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development regarding a request for a hackney carriage stand on Whitehouse Lane.

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development referred to the request of the Hackney Carriage trade concerning their request for a hackney carriage stand on Whitehouse Lane.  A report of the Director of City Development provided Members with a briefing on the issues surrounding the initial development of a proposal for a taxi rank on Whitehouse Lane adjacent to Leeds Bradford International Airport (LBIA).  The report also summarised consultation to date.

The following officers were in attendance for this item:

• Martin Farrington, Acting Director – City Development
• Andrew Hall, City Development

It was reported that the report had been produced following the Board’s February meeting where it had been requested to consider proposals for a hackney carriage stand at the airport.  Initial consultation had been undertaken with Ward Members and other stakeholders.

The following key issues were highlighted:

• Ward Members were broadly supportive of the proposals.
• The provision of a hackney carriage stand would provide a public service and give customers a choice between the use of hackney carriage or private hire vehicles.
• The hackney carriage providers would contribute towards the funding of the proposals.
• There was felt to be a lack of provision for disabled customers that would be rectified with the availability of hackney carriages near the airport.
• Concerns raised by LBIA – these included safety of pedestrians and that the plans may prejudice the future development of the airport.

Members raised concerns and made the following comments in relation to the proposals:

• The reasons given by LBIA against the proposals were weak.  Claims that the proposed rank would be too far from the airport should be dismissed as the rank was closer than much of the airport car parking.
• The concerns of pedestrian safety were exaggerated.
• The clearing of luggage trolleys – this was an issue that should be easily resolved between the  hackney carriage traders and the airport.
• Concern that LBIA had a vested interest due to the contract with the chosen private hire provider.
• The private hire contracter only had 8 to 10 disabled access vehicles whereas the hackney carriage service had approximately 300.
• Current arrangements for hackney carriages were not appropriate due to having no waiting area.
• Current arrangements did not give passengers choice and hackney carriages could give improved access.
• Provision for people coming from the South East of the city – it had become easier to access Manchester and other airports.
• Had there been anything in the terms and conditions of the sale of the airport regarding hackney carriage provision? – it was reported that Leeds and Bradford Council’s retained a golden share in the airport which prevented certain changes but did not include a requirement for  hackney carriage provision.
• Concern that the cost of the private hire cars available was prohibitive.
• What would be the cost of providing a hackney carriage rank? – full details of this would be provided to the Board.
• Current arrangements for the private hire cars did not provide a satisfactory service.

In summary, Members unanimously agreed that there should be hackney carriage provision via a rank near the airport on Whitehouse Lane Yeadon and requested that officers pursue this with LBIA and representatives of the hackney carriage trade. 

RESOLVED –

(1)  That  Executive Board be informed of the unanimous view of the Scrutiny Board (City Development) that provision should be made for a hackney carriage stand at Whitehouse Lane adjacent to Leeds Bradford International Airport.

(2)  That the Acting Director of City Development consult further with representatives of Leeds Bradford International Airport to see how a proposal can be delivered in partnership that complements the current and planned surface access arrangements.