1
There was submitted a report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to recent observations by the Civic Government Enforcement Officer in relation to the demand for taxis.
The report advised that the Council had a policy of limiting the number of taxis within Renfrewshire and kept the demand for taxis under review. Section 10 (3) of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (“the Act”) empowered the Council as licensing authority to refuse to grant new taxi licences in its area in order to limit the number of taxis in the area provided it was satisfied that there was no significant demand for taxi services in its area which was unmet.
The report indicated that in May 2016, the Board had considered a d report, carried out by Vector Transport Consultancy, in relation to demand for taxi services in Renfrewshire. The Board had agreed at that time to increase the limit in relation to the number of taxis in Renfrewshire to 235. The Board also agreed that the number of taxis in Renfrewshire be reviewed in January 2017.
The report intimated that as at January 2017, officers were aware that the new licences allocated by the Board were not operating. A number of the new licences had not been granted until late 2016 and were issued subject to a condition that a suitable taxi be acquired by 1 December 2016. The Council also received intimation at that time that drivers were being sought to drive newly-licenced vehicles, who would require to apply for taxi driver’s licences. Officers thereafter arranged to carry out observations in April 2017.
The report stated that in April and August 2017, the Civic Government Enforcement Officer carried out rank inspections at Gilmour Street, Paisley and at Glasgow Airport to assess whether there was any significant unmet demand. A copy of the Civic Government Enforcement Officer’s findings was appended to the report, which indicated that general demand was currently being met at the taxi ranks in Renfrewshire.
The report advised that officers would continue to carry out observations at the taxi ranks and that further reports would be submitted to the Board.
DECIDED:
(a) That the report be noted; and
(b) That it be approved that the limit on the number of taxis continue to be kept under review.