ROUND THE COUNCILS STIRLING:
LICENCE CAP LIFTED TO MEET DEMAND
A cap on taxi licences for certain types of vehicles has been lifted by Stirling councillors. At a recent meeting, Stirling Council’s planning and regulation panel voted to remove the cap on licences for electric, hybrid and wheelchair accessible vehicles to help meet customer demand. The panel also decided all taxis can now operate across the Stirling Council area. Previously, 11 of the 82 licences available were restricted to operating outside Stirling city, mostly in rural areas. Conservative councillor Rachel Nunn, however, was backed on her suggestion that the impact this could have on Stirling’s rural communities should be monitored. She also raised her wish that accessible vehicles of more than five years old be allowed to be purchased by those seeking licences from both a cost and environmental perspective. However, officials said while “a good point” it was important to be conscious that taxis clocked up more miles than other vehicles and were also subject to stringent and more frequent testing, so this would require more consideration. Rural impact was also raised by Labour councillor Gerry McGarvey, with licensing officers acknowledging that there were at times “competing pressures” over taxis in the city centre of a type which didn’t apply to those in the more rural wards. The decisions were taken after consultation with taxi drivers, operators and Police Scotland and follow the recommendations from a Stirling Taxi Unmet Demand Survey. The council appointed the Licensed Vehicles Survey and Assessment (LVSA) to undertake the survey, which concluded there was a significant unmet demand for taxis in Stirling city centre. Council officers will also undertake a feasibility study on the introduction of a new, night-time taxi rank in the centre. The LVSA report suggested a new rank on Dumbarton Road, near Port Street, as the preferred option - but alternative locations on Corn Exchange Road and Baker Street could also be considered. There are currently 82 taxi vehicle licences issued by the council, 11 of which are restricted to operating outside Stirling city. The consultants said this had, in effect, resulted in a de facto zone restriction system
PHTM JULY 2023
for taxi licences operating in Stirling. The LVSA also found, however, that there was no unmet demand in terms of licences for private hire vehicles, of which there are 108 in the Stirling area. The council currently licenses 17 accessible vehicles as taxis and 12 as private hire. There is currently a condition attached to 11 of the taxi licence vehicles stipulating that these must be wheelchair accessible vehicles, however, no similar conditions are attached to private hire vehicles. A report considered by panel members said 17 individuals were on the waiting list to be allocated a taxi licence.
SHETLAND: NEED FOR REGULATIONS IN SHETLAND
A debate on taxi regulations was recently held at a policy and resources committee when members were asked to approve changes to the permitted age of Shetland vehicles. Transport official, Robina Barton, said the proposals, which would allow vehicles to remain in use after ten years, had arisen following discussions with trade representatives. She said the industry was still suffering from the pandemic, as well as the cost of fuel, vehicles and the wider cost of living crisis. Ms Barton warned some taxi drivers may be forced to quit the industry should the changes not be agreed on a temporary basis, ahead of a wider review of regulations. And she said this could impact on the council’s school and adult social care services, which rely on private hire operators for transport purposes. Ms Barton said the “feeling” from recent discussions was that the changes would have “no detrimental impact” on the services provided. Vehicles will still have to go for yearly checks at the county garage, pass their MoT and fulfil other legal requirements. Ms Barton said other local authorities, including Orkney, had no upper age requirements in their taxi regulations. However, North Isles member Robert Thomson was “deeply uncomfortable” with such comparisons and was critical of the quality of Orkney taxis, saying standards varied “considerably”. Shetland West member Liz Peterson took on board the concerns but felt the wider requirements such as MoTs would be sufficient. Lerwick South member John Fraser’s proposal to approve the recommendation, with a wider review of taxi regulations within two years, was passed.
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