Agenda item - Unmet Demand Survey

Report of Director of Environment (copy attached).

RESOLVED – that the Licensing Committee confirms support for the restricted numbers policy and notes that a new Unmet Demand Survey will be conducted shortly.

16.1    The Hackney Carriage Officer presented a report on the Unmet Demand Survey to the Committee and advised Members that officers were seeking confirmation of the Committee’s continued support for the restricted numbers policy.

16.2    A Member noted that there were significant problems with taxi servicing in the city, especially with overcrowding at certain ranks and asked if there was still an identifiable unmet demand. The Head of Environmental Health and Licensing explained that the current policy was based on the results from the last survey and that a new survey would need to be conducted before any review of the policy could take place. He agreed that there was a significant problem with over ranking in some areas but that this was because of under supply in other areas, not due to a general oversupply of taxis.

16.3    It was noted by Members that Brighton Station taxi rank was a particular problem but the Head of Environmental Health and Licensing explained that this rank was on private ground and permits for that area were issued by a private company. There was little the Council could do about this situation except to restrict numbers in the city.

16.4    It was asked that the new survey include information on specific problems experienced in geographical areas so that the Council could understand which areas were causing the greatest problems, and the Head of Environmental Health and Licensing informed the Committee that any specific questions that the Councillors would like answered could be included in the tender document.

16.5    RESOLVED – that the Licensing Committee confirms support for the restricted numbers policy and notes that a new Unmet Demand Survey will be conducted shortly.