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Ribble Valley who have never ever had a survey of unmet demand, decided to increase their Hackney carriage fleet by one per year until such time they feel over supply has been reached.

Below are the minutes of of the committee meeting.


795 REVIEW OF TAXI LIMITS

The Director of Legal Services asked Committee to review the Council’s present policy of restricting the number of hackney carriage licences issued.

He reminded Members that in England and Wales outside London, local authorities were able to restrict the number of hackney carriage licences which they issued, but only if they were satisfied that there was no significant unmet demand. In practice some 45% of authorities including Ribble Valley currently restricted the number of hackney carriage licences issued.

Local authorities which restrict the number of hackney carriage licences issued must be able to justify their policy in the event of an appeal by a taxi licence applicant who had had his application refused on the grounds of quantity controls.

He further commented that this Council in common with most authorities in Lancashire had always restricted the number of hackney carriage licences issued. The present limit set by the Council was 49 hackney carriage licences. A waiting list was kept of persons wishing to obtain a hackney carriage licence and when a licence became available it was offered to the person at the top of the waiting list. Currently there were 24 persons on the waiting list. He commented that the Council had never carried out a survey of unmet demand. However, observations carried out by the Council’s staff did not support the view that there was a shortage of hackney carriages in the Ribble Valley. The limit on the number of hackney carriages was regularly discussed each year at the annual meeting held with hackney carriage proprietors and private hire operators. That meeting had always been in favour of retaining the limit. However, the most important factor when considering the issue was the shortage of hackney carriage ranks, particularly in Clitheroe. Members then discussed this matter.

RESOLVED: That Committee

1. receive the report; and

2. increase the number of hackney carriage licences issued by one per annum on 1 April each year subject to no adverse consequences arising out of such an increase

That plays right into the hands of OFT.

Because they have never had a survey, then everything is just fine and dandy.

Justification Ribble Valley, did you miss that in Mr Cope's letter?

Still at least that's one for M&R Part 2.

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IDFIMH