If the answer is having a zero-emissions hackney policy, I suggest the council doesn't ask the question.
Major changes would see fewer taxis on Merseyside roadshttps://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/li ... r-32912539Major changes to taxi licenses could result in fewer Hackney carriages on the roads in one part of Merseyside. The proposals include the potential for a ‘quality of vehicle restriction’, requiring all new Hackneys to be wheelchair accessible vehicles, of less than 3 years of age, with zero emissions.
Councils have the power to restrict the number of licensed Hackney carriages within their area. However, this can only be done if the licensing authority can show there is no significant unmet demand for the services of Hackney carriages in the borough.
If a local authority takes the view that a quantity restriction can be justified, it must demonstrate there is no significant unmet demand for the services of hackney carriages. This is achieved by commissioning a Demand Survey for the Services of Hackney Carriages, which is undertaken at five year intervals.
Knowsley Council currently limits the number of Hackney carriages in the borough to 220, following the results of a 2014 survey. Before 2014, the maximum number of Hackney carriages was set at 240.
During a Licensing Committee meeting last night, elected members were asked to authorise a demand survey – at an estimated cost of between £10,000 to £20,000 – and to determine whether a numerical restriction on Hackney Carriages still meets the needs of Knowsley residents.
The council report noted the alternative to number restrictions, could be a ‘quality of vehicle’ restriction, requiring all new Hackney vehicle licences to only be issued to wheelchair accessible vehicles of less than 3 years of age, with zero emissions.
The local authority acknowledged the significant risk in this strategy, which could lead to less carriages available on the roads.
Finishing up the presentation of the report, the council officer said: “Members of the licencing committee are recommended to determine that the best way to serve the residents of Knowsley will be to continue to authorise a survey into the demand for the services of Hackney carriages within the Knowsley area.
“[In addition], to consider the survey results and recommendations at a future licencing committee once the survey is concluded and the results have been fed back to us.”
Cllr Brian Johns picked up a point on the challenges of achieving accessibility, as he asked: “The proposals said there’s suitable vehicles, which I believe, when I read the report, said about wheelchair accessible and looking towards electric vehicles down the line.
“To make that decision this evening would be inappropriate, in my view, because the infrastructure to support electric vehicles is nowhere near what it should be, and particularly if those vehicles are ranking up in specific parts of the borough.
“Those charge points when they’re running low, especially at times like today, where the temperature drops, the electric vehicles are very fickle in their usage. Therefore, I think that should be deferred till much later, when the infrastructure may be in a good position to support such an idea.”
In response to Cllr John’s point, the local authority officer said: “I do understand where you’re coming from with that regarding infrastructure challenges that may exist.
“I think fundamentally, we’re in a position where to maintain our current position, and to evidence the validity of our current position, we need to sort of commission the demand survey to move forwards.
“So the situation you address there, when infrastructure does develop to a level, there’s always the opportunity to say, revisit and reconsider the position at that time.”
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