ROUND THE COUNCILS WEST SUFFOLK:
WAV PLANS FOR NEW HACKNEYS DROPPED
The requirement for all new taxis to be wheelchair accessible has been dropped by West Suffolk Council. Suffolk News reports that the council’s cabinet agreed to a proposal removing all wheelchair accessibility requirements from hackney carriages on Tuesday 19 July, overturning a stipulation that all applications for new hackney carriages must be for wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs). The cabinet also accepted proposals to merge existing taxi zones A and B, and to change the ten-year age limit on all taxis to 15 years. The ten-year limit was agreed in 2020 and due to start in 2025. Taxi Zone A currently covers former Forest Heath District Council and Zone B covers former St Edmundsbury Borough Council.
Cllr Andy Drummond, cabinet member for regulatory and environment, said: “I am pleased cabinet has agreed to these changes. We have listened to both the taxi trade and its customers, including people who identified as having a disability or mobility issues. “Our previous policy required all new or replacement vehicles to be WAVs. But an independent survey found that WAVs weren’t suitable for the needs of all disabled people and that a balanced fleet was required. “A policy due to come in in 2025 meant that all vehicles would need to be replaced when they reached ten years old. “Analysis of the age of the fleet suggests that a very large proportion of licensees would need to replace their vehicles to adhere to this policy – including one third of WAV drivers. “This may have resulted in a reduced fleet size and could have caused unmet demand. “While the council is committed to achieving a greener and more accessible fleet, it is recognised that the charging infrastructure needs to be improved to support this, as does the availability of electric WAVs. “Increasing the maximum age of vehicles to 15 years will remove those taxis emitting the highest carbon emissions from the roads in 2025, while allowing more time for advancements in electric vehicle charging technology, infrastructure, and vehicle options to be explored. “While the merging of the zones is a permanent change, the other changes are interim measures to allow more time for the council to consider and develop plans to achieve an accessible, safe, green and thriving fleet.” Cllr Drummond suggested zone merger would spread out WAV provision so it meets demand across the district. The January 2022 review found it is currently unevenly split between two zones, with the fleet in Zone A including just under 12 per cent WAVs and the proportion in Zone B just over 48 per cent. Jason Crooks, a Haverhill taxi driver, said: “West Suffolk Council have gone from one extreme to another.
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“The first extreme was that every taxi had to be a WAV, and the new extreme is that there’s no policy in place to keep some WAVs. Obviously 100 per cent is no good at all because it is not sustainable, but we have got to have some WAV provision written in the rules. “Saloon taxis without wheelchair accessibility are so much cheaper than WAVs, so drivers will replace with them. Within two months of this policy even, I’m certain you will see the numbers of saloon taxis rise and WAVs fall. “I don’t believe the council has thought it through.” The agreed changes to are due to come into effect in Autumn 2022.
SOUTH KESTEVEN: COUNCILLOR DEFIANT OVER TAXI POLICY
A councillor has vowed that she will not be intimidated after receiving abuse over a controversial taxi policy. The tactics have been condemned by the South Kesteven DC leader, who says councillors should always be able to speak their minds. According to the Stamford Mercury, the abuse stemmed from a review into whether taxi drivers’ vehicles should be fewer than five years old when they were first registered. Councillor Linda Wootten (Con), the portfolio holder for corporate governance and licensing, said she had been targeted by angry members of the industry online. She gave a defiant statement in a cabinet meeting on Tuesday 12 July, saying: “I take my role seriously and carry it out without fear or favour, and treat everyone with respect. “During this process, I have been accused of lying and false- hoods, and certain taxi media have encouraged rubbishing my name online. I have remained professional at all times, and I can assure you I will not be intimidated, I will not be bullied and I am not a liar.” Council leader Kelham Cooke (Con) said: “I am incredibly sorry about the way you have been treated outside of this council chamber – we all take this role to do better for our area, and I’m sorry that you have been dragged into this.” He added that he had received death and stabbing threats in the past which “you never get used to”. “We should never be intimidated and always have the confidence to speak our minds and debate.” Coun Mark Whittington (Con) said: “Unfortunately a lot of people in public life are being subjected to unacceptable behaviour. We don’t come into public life to have our reputations torn to shreds – we come to serve the public.” The proposal came as the government looks to review its best practice for taxis, reducing the first registration age from seven to five years. The cabinet resolved to review it in three months when a introduction date was known, and eventually adopt the change. The Debate Not Hate report has recently reported that local councillors experience “increasing levels of abuse and intimidation” in public life.
AUGUST 2022
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