Agenda item

As agreed at the start of the meeting (Article 1 of this minute refers), the Committee received a deputation from Graeme McColl and Lynne Smith on behalf of the Aberdeen Taxi Group.

Graeme McColl suggested that consideration should be given to including representation from the licensed taxi booking offices and the Disability Advisory Group on the Taxi Consultation Group (TCG).  He intimated that each of these bodies should be permitted to have two representatives on the TCG which would allow continuity if one representative could not attend the meeting.   He also suggested that the Group meets four times yearly to coincide with the meetings of the Licensing Committee.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Corporate Governance which sought approval of the revised remit, governance and membership of the TCG.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       agree the remit of the Taxi Consultation Group as outlined in the report at section 5.1;

(b)       approve the membership of the Group as outlined in the appendix to the report; and

(c)        agree that the TCG meet twice a year (one meeting prior to and the other following the summer recess) and that the dates for these meetings be agreed by the Convener of the Group.

The Convener moved a revised set of recommendations in the following terms:-

that the Committee –

(a)       agrees that the remit for the Taxi Consultation Group is as follows “a working group of the Licensing Committee to be known as the Taxi Consultation Group will be formed.  It will consist of a maximum number of five elected members and eight representatives of the taxi trade of whom one will represent the airport operators and two will represent licensed taxi booking offices.  The Disability Advisory Group will also have one representative as a member of the Group.

Additional attendees will include the Taxi Inspector, the Fleet Services Manager and a solicitor representing the licensing function.  Other relevant representatives will be invited to attend meetings on an ad-hoc basis.

Taxi trade members must represent a specific and recognised interest group.  It will be understood that the representatives will report to their members after meetings.

The Group will meet three times yearly.  The Group will act without any powers but will discuss matters of relevance to the taxi trade at the discretion of the Convener and make recommendations to the Licensing Committee as appropriate.

Matters of relevance includes all matters relevant to the taxi trade in Aberdeen that are within the remit of the Licensing Committee.”;

(b)       agrees the voting membership for the Taxi Consultation Group as outlined within the appendix to the report, with the addition of two individuals who represent licensed taxi officers, one individual from the Disability Advisory Group and five elected members and also agrees that the TCG members will be allowed to send a substitute to the meeting should they be unable to attend; and

(c)        agrees that the TCG meets three times a year and that the dates for these meetings be agreed by the Convener.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)         to approve the revised recommendations referred to above; and

(ii)        that a review of the remit, governance and membership of the TCG be undertaken following the Scottish Local Government Elections in May 2012.