The Committee considered a report that introduced the draft Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Strategy 2023-2028 (the draft Strategy). The report sought approval from the Committee to undertake a public consultation on the draft Strategy, a copy of which had been attached to the report at Appendix 1.

The report explained that the Council was committed to ensuring that the hackney carriage and private hire sector remained integrated within the town’s sustainable transport network so that it could continue to move passengers to destinations safely, whilst contributing to the town’s economy with minimal environmental impact.

The draft Strategy outlined the Council’s overarching vision and objectives for the hackney carriage and private hire trade in the town and set out how the Council would achieve meeting the vision and make improvements to the system over the next 5 years. The report explained that the Council had set four key objectives that underpinned the basis of the draft Strategy. The four objectives were:

·       Customer focused: high levels of customer service, accountable operators and drivers  and a service which provides value for money.

·       Safe: the sector is trusted; passengers are confident in using the services and vehicles are modern and accessible for all.

·       Clean: the fleet is greener and cleaner helping to deliver services with a low  environmental impact.

·       Well regulated: the Council has an effective regulatory framework to administer and enforce statutory and local requirements, to benefit both the trade and customers.

The draft Strategy took account of the Local Transport Plan, the Electric Vehicle Strategy and environmental factors resulting from the declaration of a Climate Emergency. The draft Strategy also detailed the Council’s commitment to ensure full compliance with statutory guidance issued by the Department for Transport on Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards (see Minute 4 above) and set out the Council's position in relation to taxi ranks, wheelchair accessible vehicles, app-based taxi operations and highways use benefits. The draft Strategy included an Action Plan that detailed how and when the key objectives would be achieved.

Resolved –

(1)           That the draft Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Strategy 2023-2028, as attached to the report at Appendix 1, be approved for public consultation as set out in section 6 to the report;

(2)      That a further report be submitted to a future meeting to adopt the final Strategy, having taken the results of the public consultation into account.