Agenda item

The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 4) which provided an update on and raised any issues that had emanated from the most recent Taxi and Private Hire West Berkshire Council Liaison Group.

Mrs Fraser introduced the report and confirmed that the Liaison Group had met on 17 January 2022 where two substantive matters had been discussed. The first had been the taxi fees discussed by this Committee at its meeting on 8 November 2021 which had been consulted on, and the second was taxi tariffs. It had previously been agreed that tariffs would be discussed with the trade every January (to determine if there was an appetite for increases) should they choose to do so. The trade confirmed that they wanted a discussion to take place this year, and suggested a proposal to increase the tariffs in line with the Consumer Prices Index (CPI). Mrs Fraser advised that a report on this matter would be submitted to this Committee for consideration at its meeting on 4 July 2022.

Mrs Fraser advised that there had been a low turn-out from the trade at the recent electric vehicle event, but those that attended had been given the opportunity to test drive vehicles. Feedback suggested they had found the range of vehicles provided disappointing since they were not suitable for use as taxis. However, all attendees had found the day useful overall.

Councillor Bridgman referred to the trade suggestion of a two-tier tariff (one for saloon cars and the other for multi-seat vehicles), and proposed that this was acknowledged as a debating point this year in the discussions on potential increases in tariffs, and also incorporated in to any discussion paper circulated to the trade for consultation. The Chairman advised this matter would be discussed by this Committee at its meeting on 4 July 2022 and instructed officers to consider this proposal whilst preparing the report.

Councillor Marsh expressed his hope that the issue of greener taxis would continue to be pushed with the trade, especially given their reaction to the test vehicles on the day. He referred to a recent press article on the progress local authorities were making towards zero carbon, and highlighted that in Nottingham City Council 50% of the licenced vehicles were ultra-low emission vehicles. In West Berkshire this figure was 0% and Councillor Marsh suggested that the Council needed to find a way to encourage the trade by having high speed charging points at taxi ranks for example. Councillor Marsh also referred to the potential business opportunity of providing electric vehicles to service those consumers who would actively chose that option.

Councillor Abbs suggested that the Euro 6 standards should be looked at as a minimum standard for any taxi because that had been in place in most vehicles since 2015 and would help with emissions. Councillor Abbs noted that range anxiety still existed on charging point locations, and also the costs of charging, and these were matters that the Council could influence.

Mrs Fraser referred to the Council Motion submitted by Councillor Abbs and advised that officers were liaising with colleagues in the Environment Delivery Team and also looking at other schemes across the country, and intended to provide some options for this Committee to consider at its meeting on 4 July 2022.

The Committee RESOLVED to note the contents of the report.