A report providing the Sub-Committee with the feedback to the informal consultation, undertaken throughout November 2023 on Private Hire Vehicle Use of the Kings Road Outbound Bus Lane, asking them to consider the content of the feedback and to agree potential next steps, subject to funding.

Further to Minute 19 of the meeting held on 13 September 2023 the Sub-Committee received a report that provided feedback on the informal consultation that had been carried out throughout November 2023 on private hire vehicle use of the Kings Road outbound bus lane.  A copy of the informal consultation introduction page, survey form and attached drawing that had been published on the Council’s website was attached to the report at Appendix 1, feedback that had been received via the consultation page on the website was attached at Appendix 2 and a letter that had been submitted by Robert Williams, Chief Executive Officer of Reading Buses was attached to the report at Appendix 3.

The report stated that at the September 2023 meeting the Sub-Committee had agreed an amendment to the recommended action in the report requesting officers to carry out an informal consultation on the requested changes to the restriction, to ensure that key stakeholders were included in the consultation.  Officers had arranged for the requested informal consultation to take place throughout November 2023 and the draft content had been shared with Ward Councillors for comment and the introduction page, survey form and attached drawing were published on the Council’s website.  Officers had notified stakeholders by email, which had included statutory consultees, for example emergency service providers, and other groups including public transport operators.  A press release had also been issued.

The report included a table that provided the quantities of each selection in the feedback.

The report explained again that to pursue the requested alteration of access along the Kings Road outbound bus lane would require the following:

·         Identification of funding;

·         Statutory Consultation – Creation and advertising of the proposed new Traffic Regulation Order (TRO);

·         Implementation of the Decision – Consideration of the consultation feedback;

·         Signing Review – Review and creation of signing specifications for the required changes along the route;

·         Making the Order – Seal and advertise the made TRO;

·         Implementation of the Scheme – Change the signing on street and updating exemptions on the enforcement camera software.

In the case of a trial, the statutory consultation would involve creation and advertising of an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order and Implementation of the Decision and Signing Review would follow the implementation stage.  The old signing would need to be stored for the duration of the trial, which would be for a minimum of six months following the implementation, this was the consultation period.

The report set out the recommended options for consideration which were as follows:

(a)        Agree no change – Retain the existing restriction;

(b)        Agree to pursue a proposed change of restriction to exclude non-Reading Borough Council licenced Hackney Carriage Vehicles;

(c)        Agree to pursue a proposed change of restriction to exclude non-Reading Borough Council licenced Hackney Carriage Vehicles and to permit use by Reading Borough Council licenced Private Hire Vehicles;

(d)        As per (c) above, but using an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order.

At the invitation of the Chair Kamran Saddiq, Chairman of the Reading Private Hire Association and Paul Seaward, Vice Chairman of the Reading Private Hire Association, addressed the Sub-Committee in favour of private hire vehicle use of the Kings Road outbound bus lane.  At the invitation of the Chair Asif Rasheed, Chair of the Reading Taxi Association, and Peter Seymour, Reading Motorcycle Action Group, also addressed the Sub-Committee, they spoke against private hire vehicles using the bus lane.

The Sub-Committee discussed the report and Councillor Ennis moved a motion, seconded by Councillor Page, that option (c), as set out in paragraph 3.16 of the report and above, be agreed which the Sub-Committee unanimously supported.

Resolved –

(1)        That the report be noted;

(2)        That the feedback received via the consultation page on the Council’s website and the letter submitted by Robert Williams, Chief Executive Officer of Reading Buses, as set out in Appendices 2 and 3 attached to the report, be noted;

(3)        That having considered the proposed options in Section 3.16 of the report the proposed change of restriction to exclude non-Reading Borough Council licenced Hackney Carriage Vehicles and to permit use by Reading Borough Council licenced Private Hire Vehicles be pursued/agreed, option (c) as set out above and in the report, be agreed;

(4)        That subject to identifying the funding to progress the proposals, the following be agreed:

(i)         That the Assistant Director of Legal and Democratic Services be authorised to undertake a statutory consultation for the proposed alterations in accordance with the Local Authorities Traffic Orders (Procedure) (England and Wales) Regulations 1996;

(ii)        That, subject to no objections being received, the Assistant Director of Legal and Democratic Services be authorised to make the Traffic Regulation Order;

(iii)       That any objection(s) received during the statutory consultation period be submitted to a future meeting of the Sub-Committee;

(5)        That no public inquiry be held into the proposals.

(Councillor Ayub declared an interest in the above item on the grounds that he owned a hackney carriage. He left the room and took no part in the discussion or decision making.)