To consider the report of the Head of Environment
Minutes:
A report was submitted by the Head of the Environment Department
outlining the background and giving an update on developments with hackney
vehicle meters (taximeters). The Committee was requested to approve a proposal
to amend the conditions as part of the wider review of taxi licensing policies
and conditions currently being reviewed.
A list of the current conditions together with the proposed conditions
were presented.
It was highlighted that one of the areas of discussion was the rise in
use of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) to measure fares in licensed
vehicles. Although this use was welcomed
as a system for operators to manage and dispatch vehicles to customers and to
effectively calculate the fare for the journey, it was reported that no GPS
system currently complied with the requirements of The Measuring Instruments
(Taximeters) Regulations 2006.
Consequently, they could not be used as an approved taximeter.
It was explained that the proposal was to add a condition to clarify the
current legal status of GPS taxi management and dispatch systems.
It was reported that no arrangement was in place for hackney carriages
in Gwynedd to have their taximeters tested periodically. In response to this conditions were proposed
for taxi vehicle owners to ensure that taximeters are working appropriately;
providing a certificate to confirm that the taximeter complies with the
approved specification; is installed in accordance with The Measuring
Instruments (Taximeters) Regulations (2006); has been calibrated to include
only Gwynedd Council tariffs. It will be a requirement for the proprietor to
produce a certificate annually to the Licensing Authority to prove that
taximeter is accurate. In order to promote the changes, it was proposed that
the Licensing Unit should establish a list of approved taximeter
installers/testers to install and undertake the annual tests.
It was noted that it would be necessary to consult with the trade
regarding the changes to hackney vehicle licensing conditions. This would be undertaken as part of the wider
consultation on the review of taxi licence policies.
During the ensuing discussion,
the following points were highlighted by individual Members:
·
That the recommendation was
welcomed and ensured consistency.
·
It would be timely to receive
legal advice on the use of GPS instruments.
·
That the policy was being reviewed
in response to changes in technology.
·
There was a managerial advantage
to use GPS and therefore it was necessary to ensure that both systems worked
jointly.
In response to a question regarding who would check the adaptations to
taximeters, it was noted that it would be the responsibility of the companies
to comply with the proposed conditions.
In response to a question regarding ensuring that the taxi driver was a
'safe driver' (following a recent incident of revoking a driver's licence due
to drug use), it was noted that the Licensing Unit usually received information
through the trade. If the Licensing Unit
had concerns or if information came to hand from the public about a driver
acting inappropriately then the Unit would make a request to the Police for
information. As a result of the changes
to the Data Protection Act, it was highlighted that it was not now necessary
for the Police to automatically share information with the Unit about
individuals who had recently offended.
Following the response, it was suggested that a letter should be sent to
the Police Commissioner highlighting the Committee's concerns on sharing
personal information issues.
Following a response from the Officer that Gwynedd Council set the fare
tariffs by following a legal system, a request was received from the Members
for a list of price rates.
RESOLVED to accept the
information.
Supporting documents: