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Lewes and Eastbourne
Councils

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Court Room at Eastbourne Town Hall, Grove Road, BN21 4UG

Contact: Committee Services on 01323 410000 

Items
No. Item

23.

Minutes of the meeting held on 30 September 2019 pdf icon PDF 145 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 30 September 2019 were submitted and approved and the Chair was authorised to sign them as an accurate record.

 

24.

Apologies for absence/declaration of substitute members

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were reported from Councillor Burton.

 

25.

Declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests (DPIs) by members as required under Section 31 of the Localism Act and of other interests as required by the Code of Conduct

Minutes:

There were none.

26.

Questions by members of the public

On matters not already included on the agenda and for which prior written notice has been given (total time allowed 15 minutes)

Minutes:

There were none.

27.

Urgent items of business

The Chairman to notify the Committee of any items of urgent business to be added to the agenda.

Minutes:

There were none.

 

28.

Right to address the meeting/order of business

The Chairman to report any requests received to address the Committee from a member of the public or from a Councillor in respect of an item listed below and to invite the Committee to consider taking such items at the commencement of the meeting. 

 

One spokesperson is permitted to speak for 3 minutes and must register by 12 noon, Thursday, 2nd January 2020. Email: committees@lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk

 

Note:  Normally only one speaker is allowed to address the Committee on an item for three minutes and that one person should act as spokesperson for the group.  No more than one speaker can be allowed except in exceptional circumstances with prior agreement of the Chair before the registration deadline.

Minutes:

The Chair reported that three speakers had requested to address the Committee, having responded to the public consultation regarding Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Guidance in relation to Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles, and would be invited to speak when the Committee considered that item.

 

29.

Taxi Licensing Guidance Review pdf icon PDF 99 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Service Delivery which requested that Councillors consider the results of the public consultation regarding the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Guidance in relation to reviewing the existing Guidance concerning Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAV’s).

 

The Functional Lead – Quality Environment (FLQE) advised that the Guidance was considered by the Licensing Committee on 30th September 2019 and was agreed subject to the completion of an Equality Impact Assessment.  The Equalities and Fairness Analysis (EaFA) was attached in Appendix 1 of the agenda, and Appendix 2 comprised the current WAV Quality Control Guidance.

 

The analysis sought to provide an overview of how the options would potentially impact protected groups including, but not limited to, disability based on consultation with stakeholders, as well as demographical context.

 

Members had read and considered the content of the analysis before making their decision.

 

Members were asked to amend the current Guidance by adopting one of the following options:

 

Option 1 – Require all new Hackney Carriage vehicles to be replaced by WAV’s, noting this would eventually lead to a 100% WAV fleet.

 

Option 2 – For proprietors with plates licenced prior to April 2009 they will only be required to have a WAV when the plate changes ownership.  This suggestion was put forward in the last meeting.  Although this would eventually lead to a 100% WAV fleet, it would take longer than Option 1.  All other new Hackney Carriage vehicles were to be replaced by WAV’s.

 

Option 3 – Keep the current arrangement whereby only additional Hackney Carriage plates introduced to the trade are required to be WAV’s.

 

In addition to Options 1, 2 and 3, the Committee was asked to consider if WAV’s should remain as side loading or whether both side and rear loading WAV’s could be permitted (paragraph 5.5 of the officer’s report).

 

Geraldine Des Moulins, CEO of Possability People and Eastbourne Access Group read a written statement that had been circulated to Councillors in advance of the meeting, regarding the lack of Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles in the Hackney and Private Hire fleet.  Advocating for a flexible fleet, she said it was essential that those in powered wheelchairs had access to more rear and modern side loading vehicles.  Furthermore, disabled people living in the town, and those visiting, were at an unacceptable disadvantage not knowing if the taxi they called could accommodate them.  Also, the designated list of accessible vehicles was out of date and there was a lack of willingness from the local trade to provide contact and vehicle capacity information.  Because of the vast unmet need in the town, she said disabled people were not being afforded the same equality of opportunity as non-disabled people.

 

Mr Chris Ferguson, Hackney Carriage Proprietor, said he was in support of Option 3 of the Officer’s report to keep the current arrangement whereby only additional Hackney Carriage plates introduced to the trade were required to be WAV’s.  He said the majority of disabled  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29.

30.

Date of next meeting

The next meeting is scheduled for 9 March 2020 at 6pm.

Minutes:

The next meeting was scheduled for 9 March 2020 at 6pm.