Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on 15^th March 2011 and on 17^th May 2011.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 15^th March and 17^th May 2011 were approved as a true and correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive any Declarations of Interest from Members.

There were no declarations of interest received.

Purpose: To consider a request from the Hackney Carriage (taxi) trade to regulate the numbers of taxi vehicle licences issued by the Council

Brian Leahy introduced the report (Agenda Item 4) on the recommendations regarding the outcome of the demand survey that was undertaken following a request from the Taxi Trade to cap numbers of taxi licenses in West Berkshire. Section 16 of the Transport Act recommended that a survey be carried out approximately every 3 years in order that the Council had good evidence upon which to make its decisions. The paper that Brian Leahy had presented to the Committee was based on the independent demand survey – which was a lengthy report – the recommendations of which were included as Appendix A. The survey had indicated that there was no unmet demand in West Berkshire, however it should be noted that the government provided guidance that if market forces prevailed, then councils should not enforce a cap on numbers.

Brian Leahy had set out the options that Members were advised to consider in the report and added that the Committee could set a cap at higher level than the limit of 200 that had previously been put forward. At the time of submitting the report, the number of vehicle licenses had been 189. There were now 191 licenses with 6 awaiting processing which would take the total to 197 – 3 below the suggested limit.

In response to a question from Councillor Quentin Webb, Brian Leahy confirmed that the capping was being considered for vehicle licences not drivers. A business could have 10 cars and employ 15 drivers – there were far more drivers than there were vehicle licenses and the Council could not cap driver licences.

Councillor Jeff Beck stated for the record, that Members of the Committee had been lobbied by way of an email from Matt Castle of Dolphin Taxis with 2 attachments. However, this could not be taken into consideration at the meeting, as it was not submitted within the required timeframe. Several members of the Committee had not yet seen the email.

In response to questioning from Councillors Linden, Zverko, Argyle and Webb, Brian Leahy made the following points:

·                    2 of the 6 Berkshire Authorities had or were considering capping taxi numbers, however the choice was independent to an area;

·                    The number of licences fluctuates, but 191 was the maximum number of licences he had witnessed in 15 years. This was around 14 more than ten years ago;

·                    The Department for Transport (DfT) recommended that a survey be undertaken every 3 years if capping was adopted. In 3 years time the situation could be re-evaluated and capping be removed or reconfirmed, but firm independent evidence would be required;

·                    Taxis could operate anywhere in the District despite being licensed in a certain area, therefore there was no way to know the volume of demand in different areas of operation.

In accordance with paragraph 7.12.14 of the Council’s Constitution, the Chairman suspended standing orders to allow members of the trade to participate in the discussion.

Two representatives of the Trade, Mr Rodney Nemeth of CABCO and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Purpose: To inform the Licensing Committee of the progress made with air quality management in Thatcham.

Counillor Jeff Beck stated that this item was for information only.

Paul Anstey introduced the report (Agenda Item 5) concerning air quality management in Thatcham. The Transport Policy Task Group were the responsible group that considered these matters and the report had come through that group. He stated that tests had lead to declaring an air quality management area in Thatcham, within the blue line indicated on the map. This covered a section of the A4 from Chapel Street to Harts Hill Road. There would now be a period of consultation and engagement exercises. This was an officer based decision taken in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, Councillor Hilary Cole. The report had come to the Licensing Committee in order to inform Members that this piece of work was being carried out.

Councillor Jeff Beck stated that he was also a member of the Transport Policy Task Group who had received a presentation from Suzanne McLaughlin, Senior Environmental Health Officer. The group had been asked to agree the area that the blue line covered and had requested to know how the parameters had been determined. She had not known at the time and was to forward the information on to the Licensing Committee as had been minuted at the Task Group. Councillor Beck requested that the information be supplied to Members of the Licensing Committee and the Transport Policy Task Group.

Councillor Quentin Webb commented on the lack of figures in the report.

In response to a question from Councillor Ieuan Tuck, Paul Anstey stated that they would now be looking at how best to protect human health in the designated area; at the levels of exposure people living as well as working in the area were exposed to, and what they needed to do to ameliorate this. This was partly the purpose of the consultation activities that were to follow. They would also look at measures put in place in other areas to see if these would be appropriate. There was also a wider Air Quality Policy which helped to protect the wider population.

In response to a questions from Councillors Geoff Mayes and Quentin Webb, Paul Anstey confirmed that Nitrous Dioxide was purely traffic related, which was why it was the Transport Policy Task Group who dealt with air quality matters.  Councillor Mayes thought that the number of traffic lights in this particular area would be a major contributor to the problem. Paul Anstey stated that the testing instruments were located at fixed positions – these would make the initial assessments and then further detailed assessments would be undertaken.

RESOLVED that: Suzanne McLaughlin send information regarding the parameters for the Air Quality Management zone in Thatcham, to Members of the Licensing Committee and the Transport Policy Task Group.