Agenda item

Report of the Corporate Director of Services and Neighbourhoods

Members were presented with a report which updated them on existing Hackney Carriage ranks and proposed locations for additional ranks in the City Centre.  The Chair drew Members’ attention to a letter which had been sent by Mike Smith and Company on behalf of the owner of Café Rene

The Committee was advised of the Council’s legal powers to ‘appoint stands for Hackney Carriages’ and the importance of having stands in appropriate locations.

Members noted the current locations of existing ranks, the recommendations of a survey carried out in 2010, and the existence of a temporary rank to operate during the experimental road closure of Eastgate Street.  They were also updated on the taxi marshalling scheme, plans for an additional rank to support the new Quays development, and the implications of the new King’s Quarter development on taxi ranks.

Following discussions with the Hackney Carriage trade, a request had emerged for a possible rank in Southgate Street near the New County Hotel.  An alternative option of a hailing point was a possibility if there was insufficient space for a rank.

Members were briefed on those taxi ranks in the City which were no longer serving a useful purpose.  The Committee was advised that these ranks should be retained for the time being as they might come back into use and there would be significant costs if they were removed and then re-adopted.

The Food Safety and Licensing Service Manager summarised the key points for Members to consider and advised them of the recommendations before them:-

(1)       To agree the need for an additional taxi rank in Southgate Street which     would be monitored and assessed under a formal consultation.

(2)       To retain the taxi ranks no longer in use in the City Centre for the time       being on the grounds that they might come back into use.

The Food Safety and Licensing Service Manager addressed points of clarification from the Committee regarding the length of the consultation period should Members approve the recommendation before them and the fact that a suitable location in Southgate Street had not yet been assessed.

The Chair opened up the subject for debate.  The following matters were discussed:-

·         Parts of Southgate Street had recently been redeveloped with no provision for a taxi rank, therefore a hailing point might be more appropriate

·         If the linkages to the new Greyfriars development were improved, customers would be able to walk to the existing taxi rank in Brunswick Road more easily, negating the need for a taxi rank in Southgate Street

·         Café Rene, The New County and the two churches in Southgate Street already had their own efficient in-house calling system for getting their customers home safely

·         The justification for placing a taxi rank in that location.  One Member suggested moving it further down Southgate Street.

·         Concerns were expressed that a taxi rank would encourage people to congregate in that area who would otherwise disperse

Members were reminded that the request for the extra rank had come from the Hackney Carriage Trade.

The Chair moved an amendment to the first recommendation in the report which was seconded and on being put to the vote, carried.  ‘That the need for an additional Hackney Carriage Rank in the vicinity of Southgate Street be assessed and a paper be brought back to the next meeting of Licensing and Enforcement Committee to decide whether to accept it’.

RESOLVED

1.         That the need for an additional Hackney Carriage Rank in the vicinity of Southgate Street be assessed and a paper be brought back to the next meeting of Licensing and Enforcement Committee to decide whether to accept it.

2.         That the taxi ranks no longer in use within the City, namely Brunswick Road and Quay Street, be retained for the time being, on the grounds that they may come back into regular use some time in the future.