General Purposes Board

Wednesday 16 January 2008 at 3 pm

Present:  Councillors Ahlfeld, Brooks, Dorrian, Fyfe, Grieve, MacLeod, McCallum, McKenzie, Moran, Rebecchi and Wilson (for McIlwee).

Chair:  Councillor Ahlfeld presided.

In attendance:  Mr H McNeilly (for Head of Legal and Administration).

Apologies:  Councillor McIlwee.

The following paragraphs are submitted for information only, having been dealt with under the powers delegated to the Board.

56

Provision of Wheelchair Accessible Taxis within Inverclyde

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There was submitted a report by the Head of Legal and Administration on the provision of wheelchair accessible taxis within Inverclyde advising of the results of the consultation process which had been carried out at the Board’s request.  At its meeting on 14 November 2007, the Board had decided to continue the matter to allow for further representations to be received.  At its meeting on 12 December 2007 the Board had decided to continue the matter further to allow the opportunity for the Convener of the Board to be present and take part in the discussion.

Councillor Ahlfeld advised the Board that the following issues in relation to taxis would be addressed at future meetings:

(1)                                                                                                   Disclosure Scotland;

(2)                                                                                                   Photographic ID;

(3)                                                                                                   Extra charging for vehicles with 6 or more passengers;

(4)                                                                                                   Increasing designated taxi ranks;

(5)                                                                                                   Inflexibility of testing of vehicles and related procedures;

(6)                                                                                                   Transfer of Taxi Licences;

(7)                                                                                                   Parking of taxis at Tescos;

(8)                                                                                                   Age of vehicles.

The Board heard Mr T McEntegart on behalf of the Lower Clyde Taxi Owners’ Association.

Decided: 

(1)                                                                                                   that the outcome of the consultation exercise carried out in relation to the provision in Inverclyde of taxis especially adapted for the disabled be noted;

(2)                                                                                                   that no action be taken with regard to introducing a policy requiring all taxis in Inverclyde to be specially adapted for use by the disabled;

(3)                                                                                                   that it be remitted to the Head of Legal and Administration to submit a report on the carrying out of a feasibility study on demand for taxis;

(4)                                                                                                   that it be remitted to the Head of Legal and Administration to liaise with taxi operators regarding the issue of pre-booking;

(5)                                                                                                   that any decisions on current or future applications be deferred pending the outcome of the appeals to the Court of Session; and

(6)                                                                                                   that the applicants for the 4 pending applications be given the opportunity to address the Board on why the general policy at (5) should not be applied to their applications and if any of these applications be refused the applicants be given the option to have their fees refunded and their applications considered first should the opportunity arise following the outcome of the appeals to the Court of Session in relation to the 6 licences granted by the Board at its meeting on 8 August 2007.

Councillor Wilson left the meeting at the conclusion of this item.

It was agreed in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 as amended that the public and press be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items on the grounds that the business involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 6 of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

57

Application for Taxi Licence: Paul Travers

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Councillor Moran declared a non financial interest by virtue of personal acquaintance with the applicant and left the meeting.

There was submitted a report by the Head of Legal and Administration on an application for a taxi licence by Mr Paul Travers following an objection by the Lower Clyde Taxi Owners’ Association.  The Board heard Mr Travers in support of his application.

Decided: that the application be refused.

Councillor Fyfe left the meeting during this item.  Councillor Moran returned to the meeting at the conclusion of this item.

58

Application for Taxi Licence: Scott Ellis

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There was submitted a report by the Head of Legal and Administration on an application for a taxi licence by Mr Scott Ellis following an objection by the Lower Clyde Taxi Owners’ Association.

Decided:

(1)                                                                                                   that the application be refused;

(2)                                                                                                   that the fee be refunded;  and

(3)                                                                                                   that a future application be given priority should the opportunity arise following the outcome of the appeals to the Court of Session.

59

Application for Taxi Licence: Mark James Brown

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Councillor Moran declared a non financial interest by virtue of personal acquaintance with the applicant and left the meeting.

There was submitted a report by the Head of Legal and Administration on an application for a taxi licence by Mr Mark James Brown following an objection by the Lower Clyde Taxi Owners’ Association.  The Board heard Mr Brown in support of his application.

Decided:

(1)                                                                                                   that the application be refused;

(2)                                                                                                   that the fee be refunded;  and

(3)                                                                                                   that a future application be given priority should the opportunity arise following the outcome of the appeals to the Court of Session.

Councillor Moran returned to the meeting at the conclusion of this item.

60

Application for Taxi Licence: William Rodgers and Gemma McKee

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There was submitted a report by the Head of Legal and Administration on an application for a taxi licence by Mr William Rodgers and Ms Gemma McKee following an objection by the Lower Clyde Taxi Owners’ Association.  The Board heard Mr Rodgers in support of the application.

Decided:

(1)                                                                                                   that the application be refused;

(2)                                                                                                   that the fee be refunded;  and

(3)                                                                                                   that a future application be given priority should the opportunity arise following the outcome of the appeals to the Court of Session.

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Request for Suspension of Taxi Driver’s Licence: Ian McMillan

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Mr McNeilly advised the Board that Mr McMillan did not hold a current Taxi Driver’s Licence and the request for suspension was withdrawn.