Having spent the best part of a year consulting with local stake-holders the council finally passed some interesting proposals (below) on the 10/09/10.
Recommendation 1: That the committee notes the position regarding the Equality Act 2010 and its possible implications.
Recommendation 2: That the committee notes the current BTEC qualification will not be available to new applicants after 30th September 2010 and delegates power to the Director of Environment to make suitable arrangements for the replacement entry-level qualification for new drivers.
Recommendation 3: That the Hackney Carriage Office (HCO), working in partnership with the Federation of Disabled People and other stakeholders, develop the framework for a Certificate of Professional Competence, research providers, and report with firm proposals by the end of March 2011.
Recommendation 4: That the Director of Environment defines a complaint process and standards to address complaints made about taxi services by passengers and members of the public, including disabled people, ensuring all complainants receive a written response within a prescribed period to be determined by the Director.
Recommendation 5: That the Committee approves the maximum age limit for a WAV, be increased from 10 to 12 years, subject to it passing two vehicle tests per year, and that the Existing Conditions are amended accordingly with the rider ‘all vehicles over ten years old shall be required to pass two vehicle inspections each year’ be added all vehicles over10 years old shall be required to pass a vehicle inspection prior to six monthly renewal.
Recommendation 5A: That the Committee approves the removal of the maximum age limit for newly licensed vehicles, subject to the maximum age limit appropriate to that vehicle.
Recommendation 6: (Withdrawn) No swivel seats for PH
Recommendation 7: That the views and evidence provided by all contributing parties to this report, be brought to the attention of officers dealing with the school transport contracts.
Recommendation 8:
That the Committee approves that all new hackney carriage vehicle licences and licences which are renewed following a transfer should conform to the Conditions of Fitness as prescribed by the Public Carriage Office (ie purpose-built London type hackney carriage vehicles) or be for wheelchair accessible vehicles with M1 ECWVTA. A transfer in this context means the transfer of the interest of an existing proprietor’s licence to another person, including transfer by the proprietor to her/himself and another person, for registration under Town Police Clauses Act 1847 s42.
Recommendation 8A: That the Committee approves the licensing of rear loading M1 ECWVTA WAVs.
Recommendation 8B: That the Committee approves the immediate release of five new hackney carriage vehicle licences with a wheelchair accessibility condition to next waiting list applicants.
Recommendation 8C: That the Committee approves the number of new hackney carriage plates, issued each May, be increased from 2 to 5 a year, until the outcome of the next Taxi Survey is known.
Recommendation 9:
That the Committee approves close circuit television shall be installed, operated and maintained in all hackney carriage and private hire vehicles, in accordance with the requirements of the Director of Environment, when a vehicle is presented for initial licensing, or renewal of vehicle licence, with effect from 1 April 2012. Proprietors shall ensure CCTV is operational when vehicle is hired and available for hire. CCTV records shall be retained for 28 days
Recommendation 10: That the Committee approves a pilot scheme initially for one-year, to publish contact details of WAV drivers prepared to take bookings, and where an operator’s licence is required for a single vehicle, that operator’s licence is provided free of charge.
Recommendation 11: That the Committee notes the promotion of accessible taxi/PHV services to taxi voucher recipients in January 2011.
Recommendation 12: That the Committee notes the proposal to support National Customer Service Week by promoting WAVs and demonstrating access features of vehicles.
Recommendation 13: That the Committee delegates to the Director of Environment operation of an accreditation scheme for operators, the detailed scheme to be developed in partnership with the Federation of Disabled People.
Recommendation 14: That the Committee asks the Federation of Disabled People to make a detailed proposal as to how they would envisage undertaking ‘mystery shopping’ setting out any costs that might be incurred.
Recommendation 15: That the Committee requires ‘Right to Work’ checks carried out on application for drivers’ licences.
Recommendation 16: That the Committee resolve to allow interior seat advertising in licensed WAVs and power is delegated to the Director of Environment to approve advertising.
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