Agenda item

To consider the report of the Head of Environment

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.