Agenda and minutes

Venue: By Skype

Contact: Fiona McCallum Tel. No. 01546 604392 

Items
No. Item

1.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Gordon Blair, Audrey Forrest, George Freeman, Roderick McCuish and Sandy Taylor.

2.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

3.

CIVIC GOVERNMENT (SCOTLAND) ACT 1982: APPLICATION FOR GRANT OF TAXI OPERATOR LICENCE (M FRANKS, HELENSBURGH)

Report by Head of Legal and Regulatory Support

Minutes:

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.  In line with recent legislation for Civic Government Hearings, the parties (and any representatives) were given the options for participating in the meeting today.  The options available were by Video Call, by Audio Call or by written submission.  For this hearing the Applicant, Mr Franks, and one of the Objectors, Mr McAuley, opted to proceed by way of Audio Call and they both joined the meeting by telephone.  Mr McCandlish, Objector, had opted to proceed by way of Video call but subsequently proceeded by way of Audio Call and he, along with his wife, also joined the meeting by telephone.

 

A further Objector, Mr Moy, did not request an invite to join the meeting.

 

The Chair outlined the procedure that would be followed and invited the Applicant to speak in support of his application.

 

APPLICANT

 

Mr Franks advised that he was here today to ask the Committee to see fit to approve his application for a Taxi Operator’s Licence for a wheelchair accessible taxi.  He said that there was an inadequate supply in Helensburgh and pointed out that this was a seaside town with many care homes.  He referred to the Objectors saying there were 6 wheelchair accessible vehicles and said he would beg to differ.  He said he only counted 4 with one vehicle in Kilcreggan, one in Alexandria and another Operator with 2 vehicles.  He referred to one Operator’s car not being tested by VOSA so the DVLA had been unable to issue a new log book stating that the car was wheelchair accessible.  He advised that he has phoned TOA and they have had nothing available. He said that care homes have had to phone Dumbarton and other areas to book wheelchair accessible vehicles.  He referred to the survey saying there were not enough wheelchair accessible vehicles and advised that disabled people were being discriminated against.  He advised that Inverclyde and West Dunbartonshire had 75% more wheelchair accessible vehicles than Helensburgh.  He said that he had spoken to a few care homes and they had indicated that they would use a local service and that they currently found it difficult to get wheelchair accessible taxis.  He said that he knew of 2 plates that would not be renewed due to bereavements. He advised that he has held a Private Hire Operator’s Licence for over a year and that he was told to await the outcome of this hearing before applying for a taxi driver’s badge in case this was not granted.  He said he put his application in during the pandemic and that he worked 24/7, 7 days a week.  He said that he did not think it was fair that other taxi drivers could object as they would be biased.  He commented that of course they would object as they would not want any more taxis on the road in competition.  He said that during the pandemic they have chosen not to come out and work.  He said that during the pandemic Mr McAuley purchased a new vehicle.  He also said that Mr McCandlish had stated his family were relying on benefits and handouts.  He advised that he knew that Mrs McCandlish was employed by Scotrail. 

 

QUESTIONS FROM OBJECTORS

 

Mrs McCandlish referred to Mr Franks having a wheelchair accessible vehicle on the road between October 2020 and December 2020.  She asked why Mr Franks had then taken this car off the road.  Mr Franks explained that his private hire vehicle had a mechanical issue and while he was waiting for this to be resolved he used his black cab.

 

Mrs McCandlish referred to Mr Franks stating that the care homes required wheelchair accessible vehicles.  She asked Mr Franks where his business would come from due to the Covid restrictions.  Mr Franks said that he had done a survey on Facebook asking nursing homes for their requirements and they had indicated that they needed wheelchair accessible vehicles.  He said it did not matter if this was today, tomorrow or next week, they still needed them.

 

OBJECTORS

 

Mr McAuley

 

Mr McAuley referred to his letter of objection.  He advised that the Council’s own survey stated that there were too many taxis in Helensburgh, even wheelchair ones.  He said he was sure there were 8 but the Council would have the correct information.  He advised that due to the current situation with Covid 19 it has been widely reported that the trade was running at a 50 – 70% reduction.  He referred to a previous hearing for an application for the same type of vehicle submitted by Mr Haddow which had not been granted.  He said that since then, about 2 meetings ago, the situation had gotten worse.  He advised that this has been recognised by the central government by granting a one off benefit to taxi drivers as they have realised how hard things are.  He said he felt that putting any more taxis on the road would only make a bad situation worse.

 

Mrs McCandlish

 

Mrs McCandlish referred to her letter of objection.  She said that there had been at least a 50% reduction in trade due to the Covid restrictions.  She advised that since the updated survey was carried out there has been no significant unmet demand for taxis.  She referred to Mr Franks advising that she worked for Scotrail and advised that over the last 18 months she has not seen anyone travelling on the train with a wheelchair who would get a taxi into town.  She said they would find it very difficult to get into town without a taxi.  She said over the last 18 months she has not seen any wheelchair passenger.  She referred to the current climate and asked if Mr Franks would hand back his Private Hire Licence if this Licence was granted or if he would keep both.

 

Councillor Jean Moffat left the meeting at this point to attend another meeting.

 

MEMBERS’ QUESTIONS

 

Councillor Trail sought and received confirmation from  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.