Agenda item

The Licensing and Environmental Protection Team Manager presented the report. She introduced Ian Millership, author of CTS’s Taxi unmet demand survey.

She said that some years ago the Council adopted a policy of limiting the number of taxis in Zone 1, corresponding to the area of the former Bath City Council, whereas there is no limit in Zone 2, which has the same boundaries as the former Wansdyke District Council. When the number of taxis in an area is regulated, it is best practice to test regularly whether there is significant unmet demand for taxis in that area and to consider whether the limit should be raised. After the survey conducted in 2011, it was concluded that there was no significant unmet demand in Zone 1 and the limit remained 122. Following the 2014 survey, it had been concluded that there was significant unmet demand and that the limit should be raised to 125.

Ian Millership gave a PowerPoint presentation about the survey. A copy of his slides is attached to these minutes. In reply to a question about the usage of new taxi ranks, he referred to the table on page 25 of his report (agenda page 47).

Members suggested that the signage of the taxi rank in Southgate Street could be improved. They also suggested that signage for taxi ranks could give information about which rank was best for travelling to a particular destination, as it would assist in reducing traffic congestion in the City if taxis could travel by the most direct route.

A Member asked why there was variation in the charges made taxi drivers for baggage. The Senior Public Protection Officer advised that there was a set charge for luggage, but that drivers had discretion about what they classified as luggage.

A Member asked about the response of groups representing disabled people to the consultation. Mr Millership referred to the list of consultees in Appendix 2 of the report, and said that there had been no specific complaint from a disability group about facilities for disabled people. There did not appear to be a business case for the provision of more taxis that could accommodate wheelchairs; larger taxis tended to be used by parties rather than wheelchair users.

A Member said that while he was aware that the area where the taxi rank was located in front of Bath Spa Railway Station was a private, this rank was probably the most important one in Bath and usage of it was likely to increase following the electrification of the Great Western main line. He wondered whether there was dialogue between the Council and First Great Western about this. The Senior Public Protection Officer confirmed that there was. Bob Hollingdale of Bath Taxi Association said that the number of places at this rank had been increased three years ago; driving off the rank into the street was very difficult because of traffic congestion.

Replying to a question from a Member, the Senior Public Protection Officer said that the hours of work of taxi drivers in Bath and North East Somerset were not regulated, nor were they by any other local authority as far as he was aware.

Members said that there was a sound case set out in the survey report to increase the number of permitted taxis from 122 to 125 in Zone 1.

RESOLVED to recommend to the Cabinet Member:

1. that the number of taxi licences in Zone 1 be increased from 122 to 125;
2. that there should be dialogue between the Council and the owners of the Southgate Shopping Centre about improved signage for the taxi rank there;
3. that public information and signage for taxi ranks should indicate which taxi ranks were the most appropriate for particular journeys.