Councillors being asked to oppose capping taxisCOUNCILLORS are to be asked to oppose proposals to cap the number of taxis in Burton despite complaints about the lack of ranks.
During East Staffordshire Borough Council’s cabinet meeting on Monday, members will instead be asked by Greg Hall, chairman of the council committee reviewing taxi licensing, to continue looking for possible taxi rank locations.
The proposal is in reaction to previous ideas to cap taxi numbers to cope with the decreasing number of taxi ranks.
The authority currently licences 130 hackney carriages with most purposebuilt.
Regular meetings are held with members of the trade which allow them to raise any issues they have. A common issue raised was the number of hackney carriages in the area and the lack of rank space.
Two taxi ranks have been moved from High Street to Library Drive but the amount of trade suggested that they were not wanted at that location.
It was agreed that Staffordshire County Council continue to look into suitable rank locations as evidence highlighted that there were considerably more taxis on the road in 2006 as well as fewer ranks. There were 21 ranks in 2006, compared to just 14 this year.
Councillor Hall said in his report: “Some authorities who have capped their service have experienced problems particularly at peak times — ie late evenings on Friday and Saturday. It would mean a constant wait for each vehicle to return and when pubs and clubs were closing, it could lead to crowds of people waiting, which in turn could cause potential anti-social issues as a result.”
Mr Hall added that an expensive consultation would have to take place if the council placed a cap on licences, and may mean the cost of a licence would have to increase.
The authority has 130 hackney carriages, and it was noted it would be unable to put a cap on the 185 private hire vehicles.
One recommendation put forward is that Staffordshire County Council continues to look into rank locations in both Burton and Uttoxeter Town Centres.
source:
http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/News/Counci ... 092011.htm
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