Agenda item

(A)       In accordance with article 5 of this minute, the Committee received a depuration from Mr Tommy Campbell, Unite in relation to item                                                                          9.1 (Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Taxi Policy Update) on the agenda.

Mr Tommy Campbell advised that Unite the Union’s position in respect of the Council’s Accessible Vehicle Policy remained the same as that presented previously, namely it did not accept that a 100% accessible vehicle taxi fleet was required as in their view demand for accessible vehicles was met by the existing number of accessible taxis in Aberdeen at this time. Mr Campbell believed that this position had been supported by the responses to the consultation held and appended to the report.  He emphasised the importance of ensuring equality of choice and he believed that this was currently being delivered through the mixed fleet.

Mr Peter Campbell referred to his experience of driving both types of vehicle and advised of customer feedback he had received wherein passengers had advised they wanted a choice and did not want a 100% wheelchair accessible fleet.  He also felt that a root and branch consultation should be undertaken as he believed key groups were missing from the consultation responses. 

He recommended that the Committee maintain a mixed fleet of taxi vehicles rather than a 100% WAV policy.

(B)       With reference to article 16 of the minute of the meeting of the Licensing Committee of 12 September 2017, the Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer – Governance which presented the results of the consultation exercise and advised of the potential legal and financial implications of adopting a mixed fleet policy.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       note the results of the consultation exercise;

(b)       note the potential legal and financial implications of adopting a mixed fleet policy; and

(c)        agree to continue with the current policy whereby all taxis require to be wheelchair accessible vehicles by June 2019 in light of the legal and financial implications of changing policy at this time.

The Committee resolved:

(i)         to agree recommendation 2.1 as contained in the report;

(ii)        to instruct the Chief Officer - Governance to change the implementation date of the existing policy to June 2023;

(iii)       to recognise that in compliance with The Equality Act 2010 that all taxi user requirements should be considered and instruct the Chief Officer - Governance:

(1)       to prepare a report with suitable mixed fleet policy options for the split which would address all customer needs whether they are a wheelchair user, visually impaired or have other mobility requirements or other relevant disability;

(2)       to submit the aforementioned options to the Licensing Committee meeting by June 2022 for consideration, noting that subject to the approval in principle of the options a full consultation as outlined in section 4.2 of the report would be undertaken and the outcome reported back to the Committee; and

(iv)       to further recognise that in 1994 when new applications for taxi licences were required to be wheelchair accessible vehicles an exemption was allowed for existing licence holders, at that time, to retain a non-accessible vehicle and even licence a further non-accessible vehicle on renewal of the licence or replacement of such vehicle and to agree that this exemption should remain meantime and instruct the Chief Officer - Governance to incorporate this exemption as an option within the proposed mixed fleet policy options to be submitted to Committee by June 2022.