The Borough Council is committed to consulting with the community on a wide range of issues. This consultation is about our proposed revised Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy.
Background
At its meeting on the 13th March 2024, Fylde Councils Public Protection Committee considered a report on wheelchair accessible vehicles and noted that despite a policy being in place to encourage such vehicles, the number of accessible vehicles is falling.
The Taxi and Private Hire best practice guidance reminds us that disability is a protected characteristic and in the Department for Transports view there should be sufficient vehicles to make travelling easy between the same times and locations as non-disabled persons. There are approximately 13.9m disabled persons in the UK representing 20% of the population. Every person is an individual, with their own unique wishes and requirements and we need to understand the access barriers.
The Committee therefore resolved to undertake a review of the Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Policy to encourage applications for appropriate vehicles.
It is now proposed to make the following updates to the Policy, and we want to seek your views. The updates are:
- Remove the age limit on first application (currently 6 years from the date of first registration) so it is comparable with the age limits on non-wheelchair accessible vehicles.
- Remove the requirement for the vehicle to be side loading.
- Consider a reduction in licence fee to encourage the licensing of such vehicles.
The amended draft policy for Wheelchair accessible vehicles may be seen at appendix L.
Other proposed amendments to the Policy include updated references, a requirement for a medical assessment to be undertaken by a medical practitioner who has sight of an applicant’s medical history and also a revision to CCTV standards at 5.13.
Before amending the policy, however, the authority intends to consult widely on what it should contain. In addition to those it must consult by law, the Council has identified a number of groups, organisations and individuals from whom it wishes to seek views. The views of all concerned are important to the Council in reaching a fair and proportionate policy in respect of licensing within the Borough. We want, therefore, to give the industry and other interested parties, including those that use or have strong views about these activities the opportunity to be involved in the formulation of appropriate policies.
When is the consultation taking place?
From Wednesday 20th March 2024 to Friday 21st June 2024
How do I respond to the Consultation?
An online response is available for your convenience to assist respondents. Or alternatively, you may wish to comment in detail on the draft policy, which is equally welcome. In this case, it will help us considerably if you refer to the draft policy by paragraph number when responding. The draft policy is available here.
It will also be of assistance if you could include in your response your name, address and contact information. If you are responding on behalf of an organisation, it would also be useful if you could give the name of the organisation and a brief description of who the organisation represents. We are, however, equally willing to receive anonymous submissions.
Where do I send my Response to?
Licensing Team
Fylde Borough Council,
Town Hall,
Lytham St Annes,
FY8 1LW
Tel: 01253 658658
E-mail: licensing@fylde.gov.uk
What will happen next?
At the end of the consultation period, all the responses will be collated and included in a Summary of Responses paper that the Council intends to publish on this website and make freely available. A decision on the policies which it is proposing to adopt will then be made by the Public Protection Committee.
If you have any further enquiries about this consultation document, please contact Chris Hambly on 01253 658422 or at the above address.
