Agenda and minutes

Councillor MacAlister declared a financial interest in relation to item 2 of these minutes on the basis that he is the holder of a taxi car licence.  He left the room during discussion of the item and accordingly took no part in the decision making.

The Chairman introduced himself and invited those present at the meeting to do likewise.  He outlined the procedure that would be followed and invited the applicant to make his case.

 

Mr Tucker was unclear why he had been invited to attend a hearing on the basis that he had been told at a previous hearing that there would be no objection to him applying for a private hire car licence.  With regard to the objections he advised that 1.  the survey did not deal with disabled access vehicles, 2.  that there were other taxi car licences in Dunoon that could transfer their licences to saloon vehicles, 3.  he questioned where luggage was stored on both the E7 Eurobuses and that these vehicles were not suitable for transporting a three wheeled scooter.

 

The objectors confirmed that they had no questions for the applicant on his submission and the chair then invited them to present their grounds for objection.

 

Mr MacIntyre advised that after the meeting had taken place on 18 August 2010 he felt there was no choice but to lodge a further objection to any private hire car licence application on the basis that if this were granted it would still leave two vehicles on an already overcrowded taxi rank.

 

Mr Darroch accepted that his disability access vehicle was more awkward than Mr Tucker’s vehicle as he had to remove seats to accommodate a wheelchair.  He then responded to Mr Tucker’s comments about the three wheeled scooter advising the Committee that he had been donated a third ramp to allow him to accept this type of fare.  He advised that with 3 current disabled access vehicles, he was sure that Dunoon would meet the requirements in terms of European Legislation.

 

Mr Tucker asked Mr Darroch where luggage was stored within his taxi.  Mr Darroch advised that there was a space for luggage behind the seat.

 

Mr Tucker asked Mr Darroch if there was a guard behind the seats or harnesses.  Mr Darroch advised that there were harnesses.

 

Mr Tucker queried why there had been a change in mind about objecting to a Private Hire Car Licence application.  Mr MacIntyre advised that there were 13 objectors and that it was in relation to Mr Tucker’s other 2 cars being used on the rank.

 

The Chairman invited Members of the Committee to raise questions.

 

Councillor Marshall asked Mr Tucker about his previous ownership of a 3^rd licence.  Mr Tucker explained that he had entered into a partnership which had broken down and as a result the plate had gone to his business partner.

 

Councillor Marshall questioned the objectors on how serious it was with regard to demand in Dunoon.  Mr MacIntyre advised there was no significant unmet demand due to being in the grip of a recession.  He commented that trade was down a third on last year and that drivers were making less than the minimum wage.

 

Councillor McCuish asked what the reason was behind requiring a third licence.  Mr Tucker advised that the new vehicle would be full accessible and that he required a back up for his Social Work and Hospital contracts.  Councillor McCuish followed up his question by querying whether this licence would be exclusively for contract work.  Mr Tucker advised that a Private Hire Car was not permitted on a taxi rank and it would be for his contract work.

 

Councillor McCuish then asked how many taxis were in Dunoon and how many were disabled access.  It was established that there were in the order of 43 plates and Mr Darroch advised that guidance suggested that 5% were required to be disabled access and therefore the 3 licences currently in operation met this requirement.

 

Councillor Kinniburgh asked whether the new vehicle would be used only for disabled customers.  Mr Tucker advised that it would be available for any person to use.

 

Councillor Currie asked whether there was anything to support either side of the argument as to whether there was or was not significant unmet demand.  Mr Tucker commented that the survey said there was no unmet demand and also that his vehicle was the only devoted disabled access vehicle as he had a condition on his licence to this effect.  The other two licences could revert to other non disabled vehicles if their owners saw fit.

 

Councillor Kinniburgh asked what percentage of customers using disabled access vehicles were in wheelchairs.  Mr Tucker did not know the exact figure but that the percentage would be quite high.  Councillor Kinniburgh asked about the percentage of use of Mr Tucker’s existing disabled access vehicle – what percentage was on the rank and what percentage was the vehicle working.  Mr Tucker advised the split was 40% on the rank and 60% working.

 

Councillor McCuish asked for confirmation that the new licence would only be available to people who had phoned to book the vehicle.  Mr Tucker confirmed this was correct.

 

Councillor Marshall asked whether Mr Tucker found it difficult to make a living given comments from the objectors.  Mr Tucker said he did not.

 

Councillor McQueen asked how many hours per week did Mr MacIntyre work per week.  Mr MacIntyre advised he worked about 84 hours per week to make a living.

 

Councillor Currie asked whether a 3^rd plate was necessary.  Mr Tucker advised that he had to purchase the car before he could apply for the licence and he therefore had purchased the vehicle.

 

The Chairman invited both parties to sum up.

 

Mr Macintyre advised that the Taxi Owners Association objected on the basis that there would be 2 taxis siting on the ranks longer if this licence is granted.  He commented that Mr Tucker could have bought out his partner to have kept his third licence and that if Mr Tucker was so busy why his taxi was unavailable on 18 and 19 September as there was no day shift driver.  He also advised that the letter of support Mr Tucker had obtained could have  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.