Agenda and minutes

No declarations of interest were received.

Apologies for absence were received from Chris Brown, Stephen Oliver and Ian Waller.

Minutes of the Meeting of the Taxi Consultative Committee held on 30 January, 2019.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 30 January, 2019 were agreed as a true record.

Further to Minute No. 21 ‘Railway Safety’, it was agreed to ask the trade representatives to confirm whether they had booked free places for drivers on the suicide awareness and prevention training and distributed the awareness raising cards. It was suggested that the group secretaries be approached to make arrangements for this training for elected Members.

Further to Minute No. 23 ‘Location of Taxi Rank – Knifesmithgate’, it was noted that a taxi pick up / drop off point had been included within the plans for the new Enterprise Centre, which had now been approved.

Inspector Nicholls submitted the reported crime figures for the period 1 January to 31 March, 2019 for the Chesterfield and the Bolsover and North East Derbyshire Policing sections, totalling 31 reports, which included:

20 – making off without payment (18 unknown suspects;

2 suspects dealt with)

3 – racially aggravated abuse (2 suspects unknown;

   1 suspect identified – ongoing)

3 – assault on driver (3 suspects unknown)

3 – criminal damage (1 charged; 2 suspects unknown)

1 – abuse to taxi driver (1 suspect unknown)

1 – theft from taxi (cash box stolen overnight)

It was explained that there had been an increase in the number of cases where the victims did not wish to provide statements, and Inspector Nicholls asked representatives to encourage drivers to provide statements to enable the police to investigate crimes. He confirmed that appointments could be made to do this up to 8.00 pm.

Further to Minute No. 24, Simon Tranter explained that the Traffic Regulation Order for the public realm improvements on Elder Way and Knifesmithgate was being prepared and that this would be distributed to the trade representatives shortly as part of the initial consultation. Following any feedback received at that stage, the formal public consultation would be undertaken leading to a decision by the County Council Strategic Director. It was expected that the whole process would take 3 – 4 months, and it was suggested that the timescales be coordinated as far as possible with the development work on the ground.

Further to Minute No. 25, it was confirmed that the Chair and Councillor Burrows had met with Chris Brown and Mandy Shaw about the legislative requirements for community transport vehicles working on school transport contracts, and Chris Brown had agreed to pursue these with the local MP.

Trevor Durham reported that during the past three months one driver’s licence had been revoked and two appeals against revocation had been successfully defended.

The computerised knowledge test was due to go live at the end of April at the lower cost of £50, resulting in more tests being available.

39 vehicles had failed the six-monthly vehicle test, with it being necessary to issue penalty points on two occasions and warnings on six occasions.

It was noted that the Council had responded to the recent national government consultation on taxi and private hire licensing entitled ‘Protecting Users’, details of which had been circulated to the trade. Trade representatives were encouraged to respond to the consultation before the 22 April deadline.

It was noted that invitations for the nomination of trade representatives to serve on the Committee from June, 2019 to May, 2021 would be distributed shortly, to be received by 20 May, 2019.

The Chair thanked all the representatives and officers for their contribution to the work of the Committee as this was the last meeting of the current Council year prior to the Borough Council elections on 2 May, 2019. She particularly thanked Councillors Burrows and V Diouf who were not standing for re-election.