Agenda item

Briefing Note and Presentation of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place)

Jim Cunningham MP, Coleen Fletcher MP and Geoffrey Robinson MP and Councillors Innes and Lakha, Cabinet Member and Deputy Cabinet Member for City Services, have been invited to the meeting for the consideration of this item along with the following representatives:

Marcus Jimenez, General Manager, Central Taxis

Alan Lewis, Unite

The Committee received a presentation from the Director of Streetscene and Regulatory Services and considered a briefing note of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator which provided a strategic overview of the current position in relation to taxi-licensing, including the context in which local authorities operate, the current legislative context and potential developments and recent market changes. Marcus Jimenez, General Manager from Central Taxis and Alan Lewis, Unite attended the meeting for the consideration of this item along with Councillor Lakha, Deputy Cabinet Member for City Services. Councillor Duggins, Cabinet Member for Policy and Leadership was also in attendance. The city’s three MPs had also been invited but were unable to attend due to prior commitments.

The presentation referred to the two types of taxis licensed in the city as follows: The Hackney Carriage (black cab) which was currently caped at 859 and operated from the taxi ranks, could be flagged down in the street, undertook pre-booked work and was required to use the metre to measure levy their charge within their licensed authority. There were currently approximately 200 private hire vehicles licensed in Coventry who could undertake pre-booked work only.

The presentation set out all the requirements to be able to be a taxi driver in the city including a comparison with the reduced requirements for other local authorities. The necessary vehicle checks were also highlighted.

The Committee were informed of the current challenges around taxi licensing which included:

Air Quality – the majority of the taxi fleet were older diesel vehicles, especially the black cabs which contributed to poor air quality. New technologies such as the LEVC TXC would help to improve air quality.

Cross Boarder Hire – an increasing number of vehicles were now trading in Coventry from local authorities with lower licensing standards and the council had no licensing power over these vehicles.

Current Legislation not Fit for Purpose – the current legislation did not deal with the rise of digital solutions and app based platforms, for example Uber; were two different types of taxi licences still needed in 2017?; should Hackney Carriages still have regulated metres?; what would happen to accessible vehicles if the market dictated a move to all private hire vehicles.

Members raised a number of questions in response to the presentation and responses were provided by the officer and the representatives present, matters raised included:

·  Details about the European Court ruling that Uber was a transport company and not a digital service and the resulting implications

·  Further details about the different requirements needed to be met to be a taxi driver in Coventry compared to the requirements for Wolverhampton and Birmingham

·  An update about what was happening across the West Midlands region regarding taxi licensing from Councillor Duggins from his perspective as Leader of the Council

·  Details of the Reading Court Case when two private hire drivers had been prosecuted for illegally plying for hire after trying the Uber Incentive Scheme

·  The importance of ensuring the safety of Coventry residents who use local taxis

·  A concern that Coventry drivers were being disadvantaged in light of all requirements being placed on them.

·  A comparison of the numbers of taxi drivers licensed in Coventry compared to Wolverhampton

·  The implications for the Hackney Carriage trade if Uber continued to operate in the city

·  Details about the recent meeting between John Hayes, Transport Minister, Jim Cunningham MP and Alan Lewis including the discussions on potential legislative changes which were not anticipated in the next two Parliaments

·  Concerns about the licensing of drivers by Wolverhampton Council and the implications for taxi drivers in Coventry along with details of meetings which included representatives from the two local authorities

·  Further information about the Uber drivers licensed by Wolverhampton and Birmingham operating in Coventry

·  If there were any options open to the City Council to help alleviate the current taxi issues in the city

·  A request for a snap shot in time of taxis in the city

·  An acknowledgement of the need for a change in regulation legislation to be able to deal with some of the issues raised

·  Potential implications for the City of Culture 2021

·  The need to support future development opportunities in the city i.e. the development of electric vehicles

·  The opportunities for the West Midlands Mayor, Andy Street to become involved in lobbying for a change in legislation relating to taxi licensing and the requirement to keep lobbying

·  Details about the potential for customers to pay for taxis by electronic payment

·  The opportunity to be taken to review the requirements/ standards for taxi drivers in the city to ensure the City Council is carrying out its duties in the most expedient and efficient way.    

RESOLVED that:

(1) The content of the presentation be noted.

(2) The issue of public safety to be kept at the forefront on any future discussions on taxi licensing and support be given to the opportunities for innovation in the city e.g. the development of electric vehicles.

(3) Opportunities be taken to develop and streamline requirements/ standards for taxi drivers and vehicles in Coventry to ensure Council processes are undertaken in the most expedient and efficient way, while maintaining the highest level of standards.

(4) The Chair, Councillor Brown, to write to the city’s three MPs and Andy Street, West Midlands Mayor, requesting that every opportunity be taken to lobby for a change in legislation for taxi licensing which is no longer fit for purpose.

(5) The Board to be informed of the legal implications relating to Uber operating in the city and the subsequent challenges this brings, for further consideration.

(6) Consideration be given to undertaking a study of taxi licensing in the city, providing a snap shot in time and the potential position in future years, with the results informing any review of taxi licensing requirements.