Agenda item

Update on implementation of recommendations from "Improving Disabled People's Access to Redditch Taxi Fleet" Task Group

Minutes:

Members received a report which gave an update on the implementation of the recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s  Improving Disabled People’s Access to Redditch Taxi Fleets Task Group.  It was noted that the Licensing Committee had agreed to adopt the recommendations of the Task Group in July 2016.

 

The Senior Practitioner (Licensing), Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS) summarised for Members the position in relation to the 7 recommendations as follows:-

 

Recommendation 1(a): The SPL reminded Members that the policy regarding the age criteria for Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (“WAV”s) had been amended with effect from 01 December 2017 to allow vehicles up to the age of 6 years to be licensed.  Previously only brand new vehicles had been eligible to be licensed. In the period since the change was made, 2 additional WAVs had been licensed.

 

Recommendation 1 (b):  The SPL advised that following discussion with the licenced trade it had been agreed that information regarding how to make a complaint or express a compliment would be included on the small internal licence plate that is displayed on all vehicles.  The proofs of the new design had been received and WRS officers would be looking to phase in the new licence plates as soon as existing stocks were used up.

 

Recommendation 2:  It was noted that Members had already discussed the issues around the introduction of compulsory disability awareness training and driving standards assessments under agenda item 5, and that this element was going to be subject to further review in light of the feedback from the licensed trade.

 

Recommendation 3:  The SPL advised that plans to start the recommended media campaign had been overtaken by events when the government had introduced sections of the Equality Act 2010.  The SPL reported that officers would be looking to launch a media campaign in the spring which would pick up on the issues around accessibility for wheel chair users alongside promotion of the new plates including the complaints and compliments information for passengers.

 

Recommendation 4:  The SPL advised that this recommendation, which had been to maintain a list of drivers who operate WAVs, had also been affected by the introduction of the provisions in the Equality Act 2010.  Under the legislation Redditch Borough Council would be operating a list of designated (wheelchair accessible) vehicles and this had been introduced.  The SPL confirmed that the list was available on the website for WRS and could also be accessed from the Redditch Borough Council website.

 

The SPL responded to Member comments that the list was not easy to find on the website and confirmed that officers would be looking to see whether this could be improved.  It was noted that the list includes names and details but that it wold not be possible to automatically include contact numbers without express permission due to the Data Protection Act.

 

Recommendation 5:  The SPL confirmed that a review of conditions attached to private hire operator licences had been carried out comparing the position in Redditch with other councils in Worcestershire.  The review had found that the conditions were broadly consistent.  The SPL advised that this was an area where further work was planned to look at conditions across the West Midlands and it was hoped that in the longer term this could contribute to improving consistency and the development of regional standards.

 

Recommendations 6:  In reporting back on this item the SPL commented that trying to gauge the effectiveness of Disability Awareness Training is hard to measure.  The level of complaints had continued at a low level which was to be welcomed, although there was the question of whether passengers had information about how to complain.  The level of complaints would be kept under review following the introduction of the new signage.

 

The SPL answered questions from Members and in doing so confirmed that:-

 

·         All licensed drivers had been informed of the changes introduced by the Equality Act 2010 via a newsletter;

·         That specific documents on the new equality duties had been provided for the holders of WAV licences;

·         There was very little evidence in terms of any poor treatment of disabled passengers, with the one exception of an incident when a driver had refused to take a passenger with a guide dog.

 

RESOLVED

 

that the contents of the report be noted.

Supporting documents: