Issue - meetings

NOTICES OF MOTION

Meeting: 25/01/2024 - Council (Item 70)

70 Notices of Motion pdf icon PDF 160 KB

1.    PROPOSED BY COUNCILLOR CHAMBERS-DUBUS

 

“In 2021, across England and Wales the proportion of disabled people was 17.8% so in the drive for equality this council needs to make sure 17.8% of licenced taxis and private hire vehicles available during all operating hours are Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAVs).

 

Currently, whilst there are WAVs licensed by the council most only operate during daytime hours and many of those concentrate on providing specialist services to schools, colleges and other day time projects. This means that disabled people struggle and are often limited when needing a taxi to go shopping, get to work or go the railway station etc.

 

The situation in the evening and at weekends is worsened as there are very few taxis and operators prepared or available to take disabled people for a night out to the cinema, pub, restaurant, nightclub or simply to visit friends.

 

Whilst acknowledging the Councils licensing team are making changes to increase the number of WAVs, taxi and private hire operators need further encouragement to ensure that at least 17.8% are WAVs.

 

This council therefore resolves to:

 

·       Provide business rate discounts to taxi operators who can ensure 17.8% of their vehicles are WAVs and operate them at all times of the day.

 

·       Offer a registration rebate to operators who provide WAVs in the evenings and during weekends.

 

·       Provide free, quality disability awareness training to operators and drivers to enable them to safely transport disabled people.

 

·       Consider other incentives for operators.

 

·       Review and increase the percentage of WAVs available for public use, particularly during the evenings and at weekends.”

 

2.    PROPOSED BY COUNCILLOR HUDSON

 

“This Councils notes;

 

A motion to this council on spiking in 2021 has helped progress the work by the Council and offers thanks to Gloucestershire Constabulary, GCC Licensing team, Nightsafe partners, and the individual licensed premises in Gloucester who have put extra measures in place to prevent and detect incidents of spiking in Gloucester.

 

The measures include drink testing kits, educational campaigns, the introduction of quiet areas for potential victims, spiking training, urine testing kits, and the successful street medic scheme who are medically trained to help those who may have been spiked and feel unwell.

 

This Councils supports the continuation and expansion of all these measures to ensure ALL licensed pubs, nightclubs and restaurants in Gloucester are aware of spiking and have provision to prevent and detect incidents in the day and night time economy including knowing how to support potential victims to get help and stay safe. 

 

The Council resolves:

 

·       To explore whether conditions on licenced premises can be included through the Council’s licencing regime whether voluntarily or mandatory to ensure venues have appropriate security and staff training in place to improve safety including the search for spiking paraphernalia and recognising signs that someone could be perpetrating this offence;

 

·       To commit to work with key stakeholders, particularly those in the night-time economy, to review existing practices in use and implement all possible safety options as a matter of urgency, including  ...  view the full agenda text for item 70

Minutes: