The Head of Community Services submitted a report to the General Purposes Licensing Committee on 18 May 2016 which details the findings of the “Unmet Demand” survey that was carried out between 7 September 2015 and 20 December 2015.

The General Purposes Licensing Committee resolved to:

1.            agree to accept the conclusions of the Hackney Carriage “Unmet Demand” survey report prepared by CTS Traffic and Transportation that there is currently no significant unmet demand for Hackney Carriage Vehicles;

2.            recommend to Council that there is currently no unmet demand for the services of Hackney Carriage Vehicles and to therefore resolve to maintain the Council’s Policy of Hackney Carriage Quantity Control and the current quota of 107 Hackney Carriage Vehicle licences; and

3.            recommend to Council that a further “Unmet Demand” survey be commissioned in 2018, subject to any future changes to relevant legislation.

The relevant extract of the Minutes of the General Purposes Committee meeting on 18 May is attached.

The Committee Chair will move the recommendations.

Recommendations

The General Purposes Licensing Committee recommends that Council:

1.            note that there is currently no unmet demand for the services of Hackney Carriage Vehicles and to therefore resolve to maintain the Council’s Policy of Hackney Carriage Quantity Control and the current quota of 107 Hackney Carriage Vehicle licences; and

2.            agree that a further “Unmet Demand” survey be commissioned in 2018, subject to any future changes to relevant legislation.

Councillors Abbassi, Altaf-Khan and Malik declared that this item affected one of their disclosable pecuniary interests and left the chamber for the duration of this item.

Council considered a report to the General Purposes Licensing Committee on 18 May 2016 which details the findings of the “Unmet Demand” survey that was carried out between 7 September 2015 and 20 December 2015.

Council noted comments from members:

-       the unmet need survey could be brought forward if required

-       feedback from the hospitals and observations from outlying areas such as Headington should be included in this.

Council resolved:

1.            To note that there is currently no unmet demand for the services of Hackney Carriage Vehicles and

2.            therefore to maintain the Council’s Policy of Hackney Carriage Quantity Control and the current quota of 107 Hackney Carriage Vehicle licences; and

3.            that a further “Unmet Demand” survey be commissioned in 2018, subject to any future changes to relevant legislation.

The Head of Community Services has submitted a report which details the findings of the “Unmet Demand” survey that was carried out between 7 September 2015 and 20 December 2015.

Recommendation(s): That the General Purposes Licensing Committee resolves to:

1.            agree to accept the conclusions of the Hackney Carriage “Unmet Demand” survey report prepared by CTS Traffic and Transportation that there is currently no significant unmet demand for Hackney Carriage Vehicles;

2.            recommend to Council that there is currently no unmet demand for the services of Hackney Carriage Vehicles and to therefore resolve to maintain the Council’s Policy of Hackney Carriage Quantity Control and the current quota of 107 Hackney Carriage Vehicle licences; and

3.            recommend to Council that a further “Unmet Demand” survey be commissioned in 2018, subject to any future changes to relevant legislation.

The Head of Community Services has submitted a report which details the findings of the “Unmet Demand” survey 2015.

The Licensing Manager introduced the report.  He explained that CTS Traffic and Transportation were appointed to undertake a Hackney Carriage Vehicles “Unmet Demand” Survey, which was carried out between 7 September 2015 and 20 December 2015, with further video and data intelligence research until February 2016.

He said that the survey concluded that:

“There is no evidence of any unmet demand for hackney carriages either patent or latent which is significant at this point in time in the Oxford area. The committee is therefore able to retain the current policy and limit at the present level and defend this if necessary. ”

The consultant from CTS Traffic and Transportation gave a brief presentation and answered questions.  He highlighted the following points:

•         hackney carriage usage down since 2012

•         Some impact of road works

•         More impact from private hire vehicles from inside and outside of Oxford

•         hackney carriage fleet appreciated and people know where to get them but people choose private hire vehicles

•         Appears private hire vehicles promotion has increased their share of market

•         No evidence of patent or latent unmet demand

•         Retention of limit would help trade focus on developing current offer

•         Need to take advantage of recent developments including computer apps and other ways to promote private hire vehicles

•         Council and county can assist in promoting rank locations

The General Purposes Licensing Committee resolved to:

1.            agree to accept the conclusions of the Hackney Carriage “Unmet Demand” survey report prepared by CTS Traffic and Transportation that there is currently no significant unmet demand for Hackney Carriage Vehicles;

2.            recommend to Council that there is currently no unmet demand for the services of Hackney Carriage Vehicles and to therefore resolve to maintain the Council’s Policy of Hackney Carriage Quantity Control and the current quota of 107 Hackney Carriage Vehicle licences; and

3.            recommend to Council that a further “Unmet Demand” survey be commissioned in 2018, subject to any future changes to relevant legislation.