Taxi Liaison Group - 11/12/2009
At a MEETING of the TAXI LIAISON GROUP held at Dundee on 11th December, 2009.
APPENDIX I
Present:-
DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES
Bailie Roderick A J WALLACE
Councillor Tom FERGUSON
Councillor Andrew DAWSON
Councillor Stewart HUNTER
Councillor David BOWES
TAXI TRADE REPRESENTATIVES
Graeme STEPHEN, Dundee Taxi Association
Doug MARTIN, Tay Taxis
David YOUNG, Dundee Private Hire Ltd
Mike ESPOSITO, 505050
Chris ELDER, Transport and General Workers' Union
Doug INGLIS, Handy Taxis
John CURRAN, Tele Taxis
TAYSIDE POLICE REPRESENTATIVES
Stephen QUINN, (Sergeant)
Rachael FRANCIS, (Sergeant)
Cammy FORBES, (Constable)
Neil CRUICKSHANK, (Constable)
OFFICERS
Stuart GALLOWAY, Principal General Services Officer
Brian WOODCOCK, Senior Solicitor, Licensing
Mark DEVINE, City Development
John BERRY, City Development
Ian McCANDLESS, Dundee Contract Services
Bailie Roderick A J WALLACE, Convener, in the Chair.
I MINUTE OF MEETING OF 18TH AUGUST, 2009
The minute of meeting held on 18th August, 2009 was submitted and noted subject to amendment to Article VI (a) "ADVERTISING ON PRIVATE HIRE CARS" to reflect that it was the view of DTA that advertising should not be permitted.
II DUNDEE WHEELCHAIR TAXI ASSOCIATION - CHANGE OF NAME
Erik Thoresen advised that the Dundee Wheelchair Taxi Association had now decided to change its name to the Dundee Hackney Association and that various Committees and Council Officers should now process any further information under this new heading.
The Group noted accordingly.
III TAXI CARD SCHEME
Item on agenda at request of T & G.
Chris Elder, T & G reported on the taxi card scheme and its operation by the Transport Department. Mr Elder advised that he had asked the vast majority of taxi drivers and they felt that the Council's Transport Department were discriminating against older citizens in Dundee as they had to charge them the full fare when they got in taxis at the rank as they could not accept their taxi card. Mark Devine explained the background to the scheme and the position of the Council in this regard.
The Convener advised members of the Group that they should request a deputation at the appropriate Committee of the Council when they could discuss this matter.
The Group noted the position.
IV DTA
Items on agenda at request of DTA.
(i) REMOVING DRIVERS' NAMES FROM DOORS
Graeme Stephen reported the concerns of the DTA in relation to drivers' names being detailed on doors of taxis and that the removal of names could lead to improved safety for drivers and operators and would also assist in the detection of vehicles from outwith the Dundee area operating within Dundee.
The Group noted that Brian Woodcock and Stuart Galloway would liaise further with other authorities in this regard and thereafter report to a meeting of the Licensing Committee.
(ii) DRIVERS' SUSPENSION
Graeme Stephen reported that it would be beneficial for drivers and operators who had been suspended to be made known to the taxi trade. Stuart Galloway advised the Group that the licensing section currently operated a process of notifying taxi and private hire offices of drivers and operators who had been suspended. In addition, Brian Woodcock advised the Group that there was a public register which provided a note of licences which had been suspended. Further to this, the police advised of routine checks which were carried out on taxi drivers and operators.
The Group noted the position.
(iii) TAXIS USING BUS STOP AT NETHERGATE
The Group noted that this item had been withdrawn from the agenda by Graeme Stephen of the DTA and may be re-submitted at a future meeting of the Group.
(iv) THE NEW BOOKING OFFICE LEGISLATION
The Group noted that this matter would be discussed at Article XII of the minute.
V WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE VEHICLES - SUPPLY OF PARTS
Item on agenda at request of George Scullion, Sky Cabs Direct Ltd.
There was submitted a note from Mr Scullion requesting that the Group gave consideration to the level of support provided by the suppliers of:-
TX1 (1999 last model in range)
TX2 (including newer models)
Peugeot European Taxi
Peugeot E7 and E7 SE
TW200 (Patons)
TX4 (Patons)
TW300 (Patons)
Peugeot E7SE (Cabs Direct)
Peugeot E7S (Cabs Direct)
Mr Scullion had written that Dundee had no service or parts dealer for the two main suppliers of Lti TX London cabs - TW200/TW300 or Peugeot E7S and that there were no direct parts or service department in Dundee for any of the above taxis (unlike Glasgow/Edinburgh), which could then mean a delay of up to three days for parts to arrive from Glasgow or Edinburgh.
Ian McCandless explained that variations had been built in to existing testing scheme to allow for delays in this regard.
The Group noted the content of the note and that contact would be made with dealerships in an attempt to address the problem.
VI TAXI RANK REVIEW
The Group noted that in the absence of Neil Gellatly, this matter would be deferred to the next meeting of the Group.
VII ADVERTISING ON PRIVATE HIRE CARS
Reference was made to Item 6 on the agenda for the meeting of the Group on 18th August, 2009. The Group decided that a report should be submitted to the Licensing Committee with a recommendation as to how to proceed with this request for the amendment of the Committee's policy on advertising on Private Hire Cars (PHC's). However, there was no specific proposal put forward by the Group for consideration by the Committee and it was felt advisable for the matter to be the subject of further discussion by the Group with a view to a specific proposal being submitted to the Committee.
At the moment, operators of PHC's were allowed to display their own business details. Requests had been received from operators who were linked to booking offices to display the details of the offices on their vehicles. Accordingly, it was proposed that advertising be permitted on PHC's to the extent of displaying their name and telephone number of the operator or office from which the vehicle operates, provided that the word "taxi" did not appear in the advertisement. In addition, in order to address any concerns that the display of such details may lead the general public to mistake the PHC for a taxi, a notice should be displayed on the driver and passenger doors to the effect that the vehicle was a PHC and for pre-booking only. Similar arrangements apply in Perth and Kinross and it was suggested that this also be adopted in Dundee. The notice requirement would only apply to any PHC's with advertising, except stretch limousines which were distinct in themselves and would not reasonably be expected to be mistaken for a taxi.
The Group noted that Brian Woodcock would prepare a report on the matter for submission to a meeting of the Licensing Committee.
VIII CCTV - UPDATE
Stuart Galloway gave an update on the use of CCTV as piloted by drivers and operators in Dundee. Mr Galloway advised that a number of incidents had been reported to police and that footage from CCTV had been used in their investigations. Graeme Stephen of DTA advised that the quality of the pictures and sound recordings were very good and that Tayside Police were pleased with the recordings for inclusion in their investigations.
The Group noted that CCTV was not compulsory and that it was an entirely voluntary system and that it was for individual taxi drivers and operators to decide for themselves whether or not they wished to install such a system within their vehicle in consultation with the Council and Tayside Police.
Erik Thoresen advised the Group that he was aware of a petition which had been signed by 250 members of the Trade advising that they did not wish for the use of CCTV in taxis to be compulsory and welcomed confirmation that it was an entirely voluntary scheme within Dundee.
The current processing and downloading of images from software was reported and it was noted that the software for this purpose was located within the licensing section of the Council. However, discussions would take place with Tayside Police in this regard to check the feasibility of the same software being held by them should footage require to be downloaded outwith opening hours of Council offices.
The Group noted the update.
IX COURT JUDGEMENT ON WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE TAXI APPEAL CASE
Brian Woodcock advised the Group of the outcome of the court judgement on the wheelchair accessible taxi appeal case. Mr Woodcock advised the Group of the background to the case and that each future case would be decided on its own merits, having regard to judgement.
The Group noted accordingly.
X TESTING FEES
There was submitted a note of the testing fees by Ian McCandless. Mr McCandless summarised the fees. Both Mr Galloway and Mr Devine explained the formula for the calculation of the fees which had previously been agreed and that the fees had been submitted for information.
The Group noted accordingly.
XI TAXI FARES
Stuart Galloway reported that the last fares increase took place in 2008 and that in order to fulfil the requirements of the Act, the fares required to be reviewed every 15 months.
The Group agreed that there was no need to increase the fares as they currently stood.
XII TAXI AND PRIVATE HIRE OFFICES
There was submitted draft Conditions in relation to the report on taxi and private offices.
The Group noted that the opportunity would be given for members of the Trade to request a deputation to be heard at a meeting of the Licensing Committee on the day in which the report was to be considered.
The Group noted accordingly.
XIII FESTIVE SAFETY CAMPAIGN
Sergeant Rachael Francis, of Tayside Police, referred to the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland National Safety Campaign and reminded the Group of safety issues which were desired for observation when picking up or dropping off passengers in particular, over the festive period and requested that the representatives of the Taxi Trade present cascade this message to their members.
The Group noted accordingly.
Roderick A J WALLACE, Convener.