Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies.

The Committee noted that apologies had been received from Councillors L Harris and Vassiliou.

To approve and sign as a correct record the Minutes of the meetings held on 19 September 2013 and 26 September 2013 and to deal with any matters arising, attached.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meetings held on 19and 26 September 2013 be approved and signed as a correct record.  It was noted that at the 19 September meeting, the parties had not formally introduced themselves.

Report of the Head of Legal and Democratic Services seeking to review subsidy for taxi cameras, attached.

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Legal and Democratic Services seeking to review the subsidy for taxi cameras.

The Leader of the Council, Mr Johnson, Southampton Taxi Association, Mr Griffiths, Unite, Mr Wilkins, Radio Taxis (Southampton) Ltd, Mr Taylor, Bitterne Cars, Mr Hall, Southampton Hackney Association, Mr Boyland, Door 2 Door, Mr Lankford, Lankford family, Mr Afzal, Unite, Mr May, Southampton Taxi Association, Mr Munsif, Radio Taxis, Mr Stansbridge, Town Quay taxi worker and Mr Bambridge, Streamline Taxis were present and with the consent of the Chair, addressed the meeting.

The following was noted:-

·  the suggested time frame of 1^st June 2014 for implementation of the subsidy withdrawal was considered to give insufficient notice to proprietors of hackney carriage and private hire vehicles;

·  that due to the restricted finances available within the Council’s budget, it may be helpful to write to the Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner to request subsidy for cameras from the police; and

·  that Southampton City Council was possibly the only Council stating that cab cameras were mandatory and there was a modest  download rate by the police of approximately 100 per annum.  Currently a high specification camera was required, incurring higher costs than other products on the market.

RESOLVED

(i)  To write to the Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner requesting subsidy for cameras for Community Safety purposes;

(ii)  To cease the current subsidy to proprietors of hackney carriages and private hire vehicles for the installation of an approved camera at renewal or initial application of a licence, with effect from 1^st September 2014;

(iii)  To reaffirm the policy and condition of both hackney carriages and private hire vehicles as follows:

“A secure digital taxi camera system approved by the Council shall be fitted to the vehicle prior to the grant of the licence and maintained in the vehicle thereafter for the duration of the licence to the satisfaction of the Council.

The above is effective on the grant of a new (other than by renewal) or on the replacement of a licensed vehicle”; and

(iv)  To review, triennially from 2015, both the effectiveness of cameras and the approved list/specification of cameras.

Report of the Head of Legal and Democratic Services seeking to determine whether the policy and conditions in relation to the operational life of hackney carriages and private hire vehicles should be amended, attached.

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Legal and Democratic Services seeking to determine whether the policy and conditions in relation to the operational life of Hackney Carriages and Private Hire Vehicles should continue or be amended in line with one of the options set out within the report. 

The Leader of the Council, Mr Johnson, Southampton Taxi Association, Mr Griffiths, Unite, Mr Wilkins, Radio Taxis (Southampton) Ltd, Mr Taylor, Bitterne Cars, Mr Hall, Southampton Hackney Association, Mr May, Southampton Taxi Association, Mr Stansbridge, Town Quay taxi worker, Mr Bambridge, Streamline Taxis and Mr Afzal, Unite, were present and with the consent of the Chair, addressed the meeting.

The following was noted:-

• that although car emissions were high in the city, the relative number of hackney carriage and private hire vehicles in the city was small and therefore it was difficult to prove their contribution to the pollution level;
• that seeking to renew hackney carriages and private hire vehicles on a more frequent timescale would put financial pressure on vehicle owners;
• that the three letters from organisations which had been received since September 2013, expressing concern about the change of policy and how it may effect them and the image created within the city, were not all based in the city and therefore their comments, and the number received, should be weighted accordingly.

RESOLVED not to adopt the recommendations as set out in the report and to retain the conditions as agreed at the Licensing Committee on 19 September 2013.