Agenda item

To consider the report of the Licensing Manager and review the provision of taxi ranks, whether the economic needs of the Borough are adequately served by the present regime and whether the fees charged represent value for money.

Members of the taxi trade will be in attendance at the meeting to contribute to the proceedings.

The Licensing Manager highlighted the main points of her report and in particular addressed the issues raised by members of the taxi trade in the comments they had submitted for this review in relation to Gresham Road taxi rank and Staines Cars, the “marshalling scheme”, provision of other ranks and other operators licensed in neighbouring boroughs e.g Uber.

She confirmed that: the Council was willing to approach the railway companies again to explore the potential to negotiate the additional provision of ranks at Shepperton and Sunbury stations; there was potential to revisit the provision of a rank at Staines Bus station; and the rank outside Communications House, Staines-upon-Thames could be decommissioned.

Three taxi drivers attended the meeting and made the following comments:

·         the situation at Gresham Road had not changed, with taxis still regularly over ranking

·         an assessment of public safety in Gresham Road should be done on more than one occasion

·         the rank at Communications House is adequate but would be used more if it had a shelter and signage to show where it is

·         signage throughout the borough is not big enough.

·         more ranks are needed for drivers to use during the day. The only ones they can use are Gresham Road and the other side of Staines station. Ranks at Shepperton and Ashford stations should be put on the side of the road not on station land.

·         one driver was in favour of the “marshalling scheme” as he said that it made the area safer and reduced arguments between drivers

·         if the Council charged higher fees then it would have more resources to undertake enforcement.

The Licensing Manager explained that with limited resources for enforcement the Council has to prioritise its time appropriately using a risk based approach; the priority being the safety of the travelling public. Although the Council had obligations to enforce regulations this was only a small part of what it did.  Its primary purpose was to process applications not only for taxi and private hire licences but also those under the Licensing and Gambling Acts and for street trading.

The Committee asked whether there was scope to ease pressure on the Gresham Road rank by opening up ranks elsewhere in the Borough primarily at the stations, providing drivers with other opportunities of picking up a fare.

In response to councillors’ comments the Senior Environmental Health Manager agreed that the Council would researchrank locations over the next few months. In doing so, we would look at what will work, what is practicable, what is safe, what Surrey County Council will permit us to do and what is best for the drivers.

Members asked why the Council did not take action against drivers using the “marshalling scheme” to wait for a space on the Gresham Road rank when bylaws require them to proceed to another stand. The Licensing Manager explained that marshalling schemes were not unlawful in themselves.  Whether the Council agrees with “the scheme” or not, unless the drivers are breaking the law or conducting dangerous manoeuvres, for example, then we are powerless to act.Although the Council knows anecdotally that the drivers phone someone else in the “system” that a space is becoming free, unless officers see it happening (e.g. observing the same car circulating the area near the rank), they have no evidence on which to take action.

Members suggested setting up a Task Group to look at the provision of ranks and, taking on board the taxi drivers’ concerns, the Chairman suggested that the drivers present attend the Task Group to assist and feed in their comments.

The Chairman, Councillor Davis, asked Councillor Smith-Ainsley to lead on this Task Group with Councillors Griffiths and Flurry and bring recommendations back to this Committee at its next meeting.

Resolved to:

1. note the report on a review of taxi licensing and

2. set up a Task Group led by Councillor R. Smith-Ainsley, with Councillors K. Flurry and A. Griffiths, and assisted by taxi drivers, to review the provision of taxi ranks in the Borough and bring recommendations back to the next meeting of this Committee.