Taxi Liaison Group - 21/01/2016

At a MEETING of the TAXI LIAISON GROUP held at Dundee on 21st January, 2016.

Present:-

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL OFFICER REPRESENTATIVES

Stuart GALLOWAY, Principal General Services Officer, Corporate Services Department (Chair)

Brian WOODCOCK, Senior Solicitor, Licensing, Corporate Services Department

Fraser CRICHTON, City Development Department

Debbie CURRAN, City Development Department

Craig SOMERS, Environmental Department

John BERRY, City Development Department

TAXI TRADE REPRESENTATIVES

Steve CASHLEY, Dundee 505050 Ltd

Erik THORESEN, Dundee Hackney Association

David YOUNG, Dundee Private Hire (203020) Ltd

George HARRIS, Tay Taxis 450450

Graeme STEPHEN, Dundee Taxi Association

Willie LEES, GMB Union

Chris ELDER, Unite the Union

POLICE SCOTLAND (TAYSIDE DIVISION) REPRESENTATIVES

Cammy FORBES (Constable)

ALSO IN ATTENDANCE

Councillor David BOWES

Councillor Tom FERGUSON

Margaret WINTON, NHS Tayside

Stuart GALLOWAY, in the Chair.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of George Scullion, Dundee Taxis Ltd.

l MINUTE OF PREVIOUS MEETING

The minute of meeting of the Taxi Liaison Group held on 2nd October, 2015 was submitted and noted for information and record purposes.

II DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL

Items on agenda at request of Dundee City Council:-

(a) G CASINO/TAXI MARSHALS

Stuart Galloway reported on the operation of Taxi Marshals at the G Casino.

The Group agreed:-

(i) to note the area at the G Casino which was enforceable by the Taxi Marshals;

(ii) to note that to date around 100 taxi operators had been written to in relation to violations at the G Casino witnessed by the Taxi Marshals through not observing clearway signage in the interests of travelling public and pedestrians within that area and other violations and that to date 80 taxi operators had replied and that although there were taxi operators who had not replied it may be construed that they were being obstructive to enquires and as such would potentially be reported to, and subject to hearings, at the Licensing Committee as to their fitness to be the holders of a Taxi Operators Licence;

(iii) to note that taxi operators were given seven days to advise Stuart Galloway who their driver was on those occasions where a violation had been witnessed;

(iii) to note that should any taxi drivers or private hire drivers have any complaints in relation to Taxi Marshals they should e-mail or write to Stuart Galloway, Principal General Services Officer, Dundee City Council;

(iv) to note that the operation of Taxi Marshals at the G Casino was a pilot scheme and scheduled to end at the end of May, 2017;

(v) to note that Taxi Marshals were employed by SGL Security who also operated the security at the G Casino;

(vi) to note that Stuart Galloway held regular meetings with SGL Security to discuss progress of the pilot scheme;

(vii) to note that it was only the clearway area at the G Casino which was being enforced by the Taxi Marshals separate to any other enforcement which may be undertaken by Police Scotland; and

(viii) that a further report on the operation of the Taxi Marshals Pilot Scheme would be made to the next meeting of the Taxi Liaison Group.

(b) DEMAND SURVEY - VERBAL UPDATE

Stuart Galloway reported on the Demand Survey.

The Group agreed:-

(i) to note that the Demand Survey was in its final stages and that the company contracted to undertake the survey had written out to the trade seeking passenger details as part of the survey;

(ii) to note that the company employed to undertake the survey were expected to submit a report to Dundee City Council by the end of January, 2016 on their findings; and

(iii) to note that a final report on the Demand Survey was intended to be submitted to the meeting of the Licensing Committee to be held on 3rd March, 2016.

Stuart Galloway gave an update on Taxi Driver training.

The Group agreed:-

(i) to note that taxi driver training was ongoing and that any driver who had not undertaken and completed their approved taxi driver training course by 31st May, 2017, at which time applications for renewal of licence were due, would find their application not being accepted;

(ii) to note that the Licensing Committee took taxi driver training very seriously in the interest of providing a better service for the travelling public and for promoting the taxi trade within Dundee in a positive light in relation to the new developments such as the Waterfront and attractions such as the V&A; and

(iii) to note that the requirement for applicants for renewal of taxi driver licences to submit original certification in relation to their completion of an approved taxi driver training course as part of their application for renewal may mean that the online renewal system may not be in operation over that period of time; and that discussions were ongoing with the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) as to other means of verification of completion of an approved taxi driver training course with a view to maintaining the online application facility.

(d) ELECTRIC VEHICLES - VERBAL UPDATE

Fraser Crichton reported on the progress of electric vehicles operation in Dundee.

The Group agreed:-

(i) to note that Fraser Crichton was unable to give confirmation on the outcome of the bid submitted by Dundee City Council at this time and that an announcement was expected to be made within the next week;

(ii) to note that the final taxi bid was to be submitted on 27th February, 2016;

(iii) to note that the taxi bid survey was accessible at the Marchbanks depot by drivers attending that facility;

(i) to note that the body of both bids focussed on infrastructure for electric charging facilities;

(ii) to note that there was no change in the amount of money which was expected to be available by the government for successful bidders; and

(iii) to note the experiences of 203020 Electric in the provision and putting on service of electric vehicles which had evidence of minimum servicing and cost effectiveness providing a viable option for trade members and that as such the company were examining the feasibility of putting a wheelchair accessible electric vehicle on service and that currently the difference of cost between a fully fitted electric vehicle and a Peugeot Premier for example was at this moment in time 10,000 which may initially put off any potential taxi operator however this was balanced out by their cost effectiveness and low maintenance and minimum servicing and potential grant funding being available.

(e) NETHERGATE RANK - COMPLAINT PROCEDURE (INDISCRIMINATE PARKING)

Stuart Galloway reported on Nethergate Rank and complaint procedure.

The Group agreed:-

(i) to note that the complaint procedure in relation to indiscriminate parking by taxi drivers within the vicinity of the Nethergate Rank and in particular the bus bay outside the Bingo Hall would comprise a six month cycle within which any warning would stay on the offenders record for a period of six months and should a second complaint be received during that period of time, that matter would be referred to the Licensing Committee, to determine the fitness of the driver to be the holder of a Taxi Drivers Licence; and

(ii) to note that, should a second violation not be observed within the six month period then the cycle would commence again and the taxi driver would commence that cycle with a clean record.

(f) GUIDE DOGS - PROPOSED TACTILE MEDICAL CERTIFICATE

Stuart Galloway reported on the transportation of guide dogs within vehicles operated as taxis or private hire vehicles and the proposed tactile medical certificate which was tabled for the consideration of the Group.

The Group agreed:-

(i) to support the style and content of the medical certificate which was tabled and would be visible and displayed by any particular taxi driver or private hire driver who had a medical allergy which affected contact with, or transportation of, a dog within their vehicle;

(ii) to note the background to this particular issue coming to the Group and the written complaint which had been received from a blind passenger who had been refused transport within a vehicle by a licensed operator with a guide dog on the basis of that operator advising them they had a medical condition and a medical certificate which prohibited them from taking their fare which, in the end, it transpired that person did not have; and

(iii) to note anecdotal evidence provided by a member of the Group who had happened to have a blind passenger in their vehicle who had offered them payment at the end of their journey to allow for their car to be hoovered to take account of any hair which may have been shed by their guide dog and that this was a charge which appeared to have been demanded on previous occasions by other taxi drivers amounting to 1 on each occasion and to note that this was not a legal charge and was against fare scales and should any passenger with a guide dog find themselves in a position whereby the driver charged an additional fare in this manner they should report it to the Licensing Office for investigation.

(g) DISPLAY OF NOTICE RE HOW TO COMPLAIN

Stuart Galloway reported on the potential display of a notice advising travelling public how they may complain to the City Council in relation to service provided to them by the licensed driver.

The Group agreed:-

(i) to note the content of the complaint pro forma as tabled;

(ii) to note that this guidance may be incorporated within the fare scales notification or notification of who was driving the taxi/private hire car;

(iii) to note that the cost of the production of these pro forma notices was 100 for 1,000 printed;

(iv) to note that consideration was being given to the programming for the installation of this information within vehicles operated as taxis or private hire vehicles; and

(v) to note that John Berry of the City Development Department would take steps to ensure that information provided on the notice board at the rank at City Churches matched up with the content of the complaint pro forma tabled for introduction.

(h) TAY STREET RANK

Stuart Galloway reported on the above.

The Group noted that the City Development Department would be remitted to look at the feasibility of the operation of the current position of the rank at the bottom of Tay Street which it had been observed by businesses within the vicinity was infrequently used or not used and whether or not as a result this area may be returned to metered parking for the public since parking in the South Tay Street area was considered by businesses to be at a premium during the day and in the interests of the general public and the patrons of local businesses and report back to the Group on their findings.

(i) NHS TAYSIDE - SMOKING POLICY - SMOKE FREE GROUNDS

Margaret Winton, NHS Tayside, gave a verbal report on Smoking Policy operated within the grounds of NHS Tayside Hospitals, with particular reference to Ninewells Hospital. It was reported that with the nature of the operation of hospitals towards encouraging positive health care of patients who were admitted or being discharged that it was important to maintain their health and wellbeing as much as possible and to protect the propriety of the health care establishment. As such, the signage was on full display, indicating that the hospitals operated smoke free grounds policy in this respect. A new Health Bill would come into place during 2016 which would further underline this policy which would then mean that the smoke free grounds policy would be enforceable by law and that anyone observed not adhering to this policy may be subject to a fixed penalty notice. It was highlighted that hospital locations were facilitated by taxi ranks to allow for passengers to and from the hospital and assistance of drivers in observing the non-smoking policy over the duration of their period of work at the hospital would be welcomed in the interests of health and safety not only of the drivers but of the general public and, in particular, those people who may have health conditions which required medical support necessitating the need for their attendance at hospital. It was highlighted that NHS Tayside would be willing to speak with taxi drivers towards encouraging them to be smoke free whether that be through working towards stopping smoking or perhaps using the alternatives to cigarettes such as nicotine chewing gum when they happened to be at locations such as hospital ranks. It was further highlighted that 40% of people in deprived areas in Dundee were known to be smokers compared to 8% in more affluent areas in Dundee.

The Group agreed:-

(i) to note the content of the verbal presentation by Margaret Winton of NHS Tayside;

(ii) to note that emissions from vehicles at NHS establishments would fall within the general remit of Estates Manager for NHS Tayside and that should any member wish to discuss that further then they should make contact direct with NHS Tayside.

III POLICE SCOTLAND (TAYSIDE DIVISION)

Item on agenda at request of Police Scotland (Tayside Division):-

(a) IN RESPONSE TO A COMPLAINT ABOUT TAXI DRIVERS STANDING ON THE ROAD CHATTING IN PARTICULAR AT THE NETHERGATE AND RAILWAY STATION RANKS. IT IS JUST TO HIGHLIGHT TO THE TRADE REPS TO REMIND THEM AND ENCOURAGE DRIVERS TO STAND ON THE PAVEMENT IF THEY WANT TO SOCIALISE

Constable Cammy Forbes reported on the above.

The Group agreed to note the encouragement being provided by Police Scotland (Tayside Division) to remind their members and fellow drivers that in the interests of safety for both themselves and for other travelling public and for ease of safe vehicular access and movement in particular at the Nethergate and Railway Station ranks that they should refrain from standing in the road and use the pavement instead.

IV DUNDEE 505050 LIMITED

Item on agenda at request of Dundee 505050 Limited:-.

(a) UBER - CONCERN ABOUT THE EFFECT THAT UBER WOULD HAVE ON THE TAXI TRADE IN DUNDEE AND THE EFFECT ON CITIZENS WITH A VIEW TO ENSURING THERE WERE NO UNLICENSED PREMISES, DRIVERS OR VEHICLES BEING OPERATED

Steve Cashley reported on the above.

The Group agreed:-

(i) to note the view of Steve Cashley that a further survey be undertaken within Dundee with a view to capping the number of private hire vehicles within the city;

(ii) to note the legislative background to the operation of private hire vehicles in terms of licensing and that legislation had still to be put in place which would allow licensing authorities to establish a maximum number of private hire vehicles which may be operated within their city; and

(iii) to note the view of Dave Young of 203020 that effective and efficient service provided by taxi drivers within Dundee could limit possibility of any potential competitor finding a foothold within the city and reducing the business of any taxi operator as a result and that it was for licence holders within Dundee to raise their standards as a preventative measure to deter other service providers such as UBER.