Taxi Liaison Group - 27/11/2019

At a MEETING of the TAXI LIAISON GROUP held at Dundee on 27th November, 2019.

Present:-

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL OFFICER REPRESENTATIVES

Kenny McKAIG (Legal Manager), Corporate Services

Fraser CRICHTON (Assistant Transport Manager), City Development

Barry RODGER (Senior Environmental Compliance Officer), Neighbourhood Services

Daniel GARVEN (Licensing Standards Officer), Neighbourhood Services

Bryan COLEMAN (Licensing Standards Officer), Neighbourhood Services

TAXI TRADE REPRESENTATIVES

Peter MARR, City Cabs Dundee 505050 Limited

Qaiser HABIB, Dundee City Taxi Drivers Association

Mohammed HASHMI, Dundee City Taxis

Ryan TODD, Dundee Electric Taxi Association

Graeme STEPHEN, Dundee Taxi Association

Shaun OVENSTONE, Dundee Taxi Information Group

Shaun BARCLAY, Handy Taxis

Willie LEES, RMT (Dundee)

Charlie DUTHIE, Tay Taxis

John CURRAN, Unite The Union

Also in attendance:-

Councillor George McIRVINE, Dundee City Council (as an observer).

Barry RODGER, in the Chair.

I DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL

Items on agenda at request of Dundee City Council:-

(a) VEHICLE TESTING FEES

There was submitted a table indicating the proposed increase in taxi and private hire testing fees.

Following discussion, the Group agreed to the proposals as detailed and that consideration be given for any proposals in relation to taxi fares to run concurrently on a financial year basis. The Group also noted that the current pass rate for vehicles being presented to the testing centre was that 50% passed first time and the importance of licence holders maintaining their vehicles to a satisfactory standard was highlighted.

(b) A5 DRIVER ID CARD

Barry Rodger spoke to proposals in relation to the introduction of an A5 driver ID card to be placed in the windscreen area of taxis and private hire vehicles. It was estimated that the cost of introduction would be 5 additional charge on renewal of licence. The benefits and reassurance that display of a driver ID card within a vehicle may offer to members of the public were highlighted.

Following discussion, the Group agreed to note that officers would further examine this proposal in relation to potential size of the card, the location within the vehicle, the cost of introduction and whether or not the conditions of licence may need to be amended.

The Group agreed to note that, in the absence of representation from Police Scotland, this matter be deferred to a future meeting of the Group and that although there was indication from representatives of the Trade that there may be no objections to the compulsory introduction of this, it would be worthwhile looking at whether or not funding could be obtained.

II DUNDEE CITY TAXI DRIVERS ASSOCIATION

Items on agenda at request of Dundee Taxi Driver's Association:-

(a) "Electric Wheel Chair Accessible Taxi Licences should be granted to cover the demand of Disabled people. Rather than keep issuing Private Hire Taxi Operator Licences. Private Hire Licences got to be capped or allowed without any restriction."

Graeme Stephen spoke to this item of business.

Following discussion, the Group agreed to note that the current demand survey would be submitted to a meeting of the Licensing Committee on 5th December, 2019 and that, following Scottish Government amendment to legislation and guidance on private hires, the following year's survey would also include demand for Private Hire car vehicles.

(b) "Most of Traffic Bollard's concrete base are not visible at all, that is very dangerous for drivers and public. These must be properly painted and visible with reflector tapes etc."

Following discussion, the Group agreed to note that it would be helpful for specific instances to be reported to the Council to allow for areas of concern to be highlighted and, in the meantime, the matter raised in relation to Perth Road in front of the Invercarse Hotel would be passed on to City Development for comment.

(c) "Drivers who do not pay their arrears i.e. weekly rent, access or any damages to any operator, their licences should not be renewed or suspended until they clear off their dues."

Following discussion, the Group agreed to note that this would be considered a civil matter for recourse through the court. However, it was noted that taxi operators could employ drivers on a day to day basis rather than weekly should they have any concerns about potential non-payment.

(d) "Taxi Liaison Group meeting dates should be fixed annually, either 3 or 4 meetings, if required more can be arranged as on short notice."

Following discussion, the Group agreed to note that the Senior Licensing and Electoral Services Officer was looking at the potential programme for meetings of the Taxi Liaison Group over 2020 and their frequency commencing with a potential meeting date being established in January 2020.

(e) "Commercial Street could be allowed to use taxis all week same as buses. A&E Ninewells Hospital no entry sign must be allowed to taxis as well."

Following discussion, the Group agreed to note that this matter would be submitted to City Development for their comment.

(f) "Electric taxis should continue to avail free parking facility in Council's car parking.

Following discussion, the Group agreed to note that Fraser Crichton would bring forward proposals on the charging structure to a meeting of the Liaison Group to be held in the new year.

III DUNDEE TAXI ASSOCIATION

Items on agenda at request of Dundee Taxi Association:-

(a) "TAXI FARES."

Graeme Stephen spoke to the above item and, following discussion, the Group agreed to note the suggestion that taxis should be positioned facing out of the Cowgate at the Farmfoods area if the cycle lane was to be discontinued.

(b) "WE FEEL STILL NOT ENOUGH ENFORCEMENT."

Following discussion, the Group agreed to note that, should the Trade representatives feel that the current dress code was not stringent enough, representations could be made to the Licensing Committee.

Following discussion, the Group agreed to note the observations in relation to this matter that a vehicle should be obtained before applying for a corporate licence.

IV RMT, DUNDEE

Items on agenda at request of RMT, Dundee:-

(a) "CAP ON PRIVATE HIRE."

The Group agreed to note that this matter had already been covered.

(b) "lSOS - THERE IS NO POLICING IN THE TRADE. THIS ALSO COULD BE LINKED TO CCTV."

The Group agreed to note that this matter had already been covered.

Following discussion, the Group agreed to note that taxi drivers could choose to refuse to take a child as a passenger if they were not escorted by an appropriate adult in relation to school contract work.

(d) "VARIATIONS I.E. HAS THIS BEEN REPLACED BY EXEMPTIONS.

Following discussion, the Group agreed to note the legal position that the two types of applications are separate matters dealt with under the Equality Act 2010. An application can be made for either matter depending upon the indiivdual circumstances of the licence holder.

V UNITE THE UNION

Items on agenda at request of Unite the Union:-

(a) Future Taxis Tariff Reviews

"The present system is antiquated and should be replaced with a formula that reflect our actual costings of cars, fuel i.e. Diesel Petrol Gas and Electricity, Servicing, repairs, Tyres etc. If we follow the example of Edinburgh Council and move away from yardage to metres then we could also have a tariff going up in a rounded figure i.e. 5, 10 or 20 pence, it is easier to have a percentage increase if it goes up on a distance in metres.

If the Trade wish to stay with the yardage system then move away from 1/10 of a mile and lowering this figure this would also allow us to round up or down the fare, the fare doesnt have to round up or down to an exact mile, it only has to inform the public what the costings are for each yardage the taxi tariff is partitioned into."

Following discussion, the Group agreed to note that this matter had been covered on the agenda.

(b) "It was agreed at an earlier licensing meeting to allow taxi drivers to ask for an estimated fare prior to commencement of their journey, unfortunately drivers feel that to ask this of a customer is quite embarrassing. Due to a rise in unpaid hires, our members have asked for it to become part of our licensing condition that all taxis display signage of some sort stating that (estimate of fare before journey starts) or alternate wording to that affect. This would show uniformity, this would only be asked of certain passengers and would be a big discouragement and deterrent to the type of passenger who falls into this category."

Following discussion, the Group agreed to note that Barry Rodger would raise this matter with Lisa Archibald when the new fare charges were proposed to come into place.

(c) "All private hire carrying their companys logo, phone number or advertising, the word Private Hire should be underneath in the same size of text or larger than the logo, phone number or advert. These vehicles look more like taxis because of the size of what is being displayed.

Following discussion, the Group agreed to note concerns raised by representatives and that this matter would be brought to the attention of Licensing Standards Officers with Angus Council and also Police Scotland.

(d) "Company and partnership licence to be granted to any taxi operator. If the operator puts on a vehicle that meets the Low Emission Zone requirements proposed for Dundee the operator should have the same option as an electric vehicle operator."

Following discussion, the Group agreed to note the differences between the vehicles as explained by Fraser Crichton.

(e) "Hologram like on the taxi/private hire plate to be part of the new taxi badge to eradicate fraudulant badges from coming into circultion."

Following discussion, the Group agreed to note that Barry Rodger would raise this matter with Lisa Archibald.

Barry RODGER, Chair.

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