Agenda and minutes

To elect a Vice-Chair for the 2010/2011 municipal year.

RESOLVED that Councillor Willacy be elected Vice-Chair of the Committee for the 2010/2011 Municipal Year.

To approve and sign as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 11^th March 2010 and to deal with any matters arising, attached.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 11 March 2010 be signed as a correct record. (Copy of the minutes circulated with the Agenda and appended to the signed minutes).

RESOLVED that in accordance with the Council’s Constitution, specifically the Access to Information Rules, the press and public be excluded from the meeting at a predetermined point in respect of any consideration of the following matters whilst the Committee reached its decision.

Report of the Solicitor to the Council regarding the proposed variation of the table of fares for Hackney Carriages, attached.

The Committee considered the report of the Solicitor to the Council regarding the result of the public consultation regarding an application from the Southampton Hackney Association for a variation of the table of fares as authorised for advertisement and public consultation at the last meeting held on 11 March 2010. (Copy of the report circulated with the agenda and appended to the signed minutes).

Mr Hall, Southampton Hackney Carriage Association (proposer) and Mr Johnson, Southampton Trade Association (Objector) together with Mr May, Driver were present and with the consent of the Chair addressed the meeting.

RESOLVED that the application for the variation of Hackney Carriage fares proposed by the Southampton Hackney Carriage be refused.

REASON FOR DECISION

That owing to the clear difference of opinion regarding an increase in fares within the Taxi Trade there was insufficient evidence to warrant an increase in fares at this time. 

Report of the Solicitor to the Council regarding the proposed increase in fees for the grant and renewal of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle licences, attached.

The Committee considered a report of the Solicitor to the Council proposing an increase in fees for the grant and renewal of hackney carriage and private hire vehicle licences as authorised for advertisement for public consultation at the last meeting held on 11 March 2010. (Copy of the report circulated with the agenda and appended to the signed minutes).

Mr C Johnson, Chair of the Southampton Trade Association (STA), objector was present and with the consent of the Chair addressed the Committee.

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RESOLVED that revised fees as advertised and set out in the appendices of the original report be approved.

REASON FOR DECISION

The application for an increase in fees reflected increased costs of providing the service since the previous revision in November 2007.

Report of the Solicitor to the Council regarding qualifications for taxi and private hire drivers, attached.

The Committee considered the report of the Solicitor to the Council seeking approval for a further training provider offering a similar qualification to the Edexcel Level 2 BTEC Award in Transporting Passengers by Taxi and Private Hire. (Copy of the report circulated with the agenda and appended to the signed minutes).

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RESOLVED

(i)  that the EDI (Educational Development International) Certificate In Road Passenger Transport (taxi) be approved as a training Provider;

(ii)  that authority be delegated to the Solicitor to the Council to approve further similar qualifications; and

(iii)  that authority to amend the policy in respect of driver criteria in order that suitably qualified licensed drivers can apply for an alternative drivers licence without the need to undertake an approved qualification be delegated to the Solicitor to the Council in consultation with the Chair to authorise the wording of such an amendment. 

REASON FOR DECISION

The Committee accepted that the market was a changing one with more providers likely to become available that meet the relevant criteria. Accordingly it was appropriate that the authority be delegated to approve additional providers. Likewise the Committee accepted that in the circumstances as set out in the report the requirement for the qualification was not necessary in every case (i.e. previous experience) and that the policy be amended by wording to be agreed by the Solicitor to the Council.