Agenda item

Report of Director of Community Protection

Following the deferment of the item at the meeting on 26 February 2018, Angela Rawson, Regional Licensing Manager, presented the report with Richard Antcliff, Head of City Centre Management and Regulation.

As of 1 January 2020, Nottingham City Centre will become a designated ‘Clean Air Zone’. Of the 411 Hackney Carriages (‘cabs’) currently licensed by Nottingham City Council, 406 will require placement at an average cost of approximately £56,000 each.

With such a substantial outlay required from drivers, to assist in minimising cost and maximising income, licensing officers have proposed and implemented some the following measures:

(i)  a livery refresh from British racing green to black and white with the Councils Coat of Arms clearly identifiable. (The new livery is welcomed by cab owners, particularly as there would be an additional cost of approximately £2,000 if cabs were required to be re-sprayed green or any other colour, whereas all manufacturers provide black at no extra cost);

(ii)  the replacement vehicle models selected will provide an average of £120 per week saving on fuel;

(iii)  introduction of ‘my taxi’ as partner to enable access to online pre-booked fares;

(iv)  continued promotion of City licensed cabs as safe due to the standards which must be met by these cabs, including the requirements of drivers passing a ‘fit and proper persons’ test;

(v)  proposed revision of the advertising policy for Hackney Carriages;

(vi)  support in creating business plans to help maximise income.

It is proposed that whilst the body of the cabs remain black with white Council Coat of Arms on the front doors and a larger Council Coat of Arms on the bonnet, the roof of the cabs will be white. It is suggested that this livery is initially on trial for a few months and then the feedback of drivers reviewed.

Consultation events, to which members of the Committee were invited, have taken place on Market Square with examples of the proposed rebranding available for inspection. In addition, specifically for members of the Committee, a cab with the proposed new livery was available for inspected at the front of the building.

Committee members’ comments and questions included:

(a)  at the previous meeting, the change of colour was raised as an issue by members, but the proposals are welcomed by organisations representing the drivers such as the Hackney Carriage Association and Unite. The additional cost to drivers of a respray cannot be easily justified;

(b)  drivers are experiencing a difficult time as trade is reducing. It’s important that Nottingham City licenced cabs are easily identifiable to citizens wanting to hail a cab, particularly when cabs from other areas such as Gedling and Broxtowe regularly enter the City;

(c)  having previously inspected the new model cabs, which are noticeably higher than current models, the white roofs of the proposed livery are almost indistinguishable and do not clearly identify the cabs from other operators;

(d)  the proposed size of the Council Coat of Arms is not prominent enough to be easily distinguishable by citizens, so enlarging it should be considered, particularly on the bonnet;

(e)  with such a substantial outlay required, a guarantee should be sought from Central Government that the current 14 year age limit applied by this Committee will not be shortened in future with regard to the ‘Clean Air Zone’;

(f)  the current green livery is liked but cannot be easily distinguished at night;

(g)  cab drivers are requesting a larger Council Coat of Arms on the bonnet of vehicles to ensure Nottingham City cabs are easily identified;

(h)  the safety of the travelling public is paramount so ensuring that cabs licensed by Nottingham City Council, where drivers are required to pass a stringent ‘fit and proper persons’ test, can be easily distinguished from other cabs or vehicles is vital. It is vitally important to protect citizens and ensure the long term viability of the trade;

(i)  business is already difficult for many drivers and whilst it’s understood that there are no subsidy proposals from Central Government, drivers would welcome any support from the City Council in purchasing the new vehicles;

The Committee meeting was briefly adjourned from 11.08am to 11.27am to enable members of the Committee to examine the proposed black and white livery on a cab parked outside the building.

(j)  having viewed the cab again, the white roof is pointless unless a person is 7’ tall or it is viewed from above;

(k)  the larger white Council Coat of Arms, particularly on the bonnet, is welcomed and can be added to the existing livery to support the identification of Nottingham City Cabs and soften the transition;

(l)  if the Council Coat of Arms were to be luminous, this would be a further improvement.

It is noted that investigations are at an early stage with regard to finance options available from external organisations to potentially assist drivers with the purchase of new vehicles.

Councillors present for the whole of the item voted on the amendment to recommendation 1 which was proposed by Councillor Toby Neal and seconded by Councillor Nick Raine. 

RESOLVED

(1)  with regard to vehicle specification and livery:

(i)  to approve that from 17 March 2018 the current vehicle specification for new or replacement hackney carriage vehicles be amended so that approved vehicles are required to be finished in black;

(ii)   for the final detail of the finish of the approved vehicles, including the approval of any black and white livery, the size and positioning of the Councils Coat of Arms on the approved vehicle and any consequential amendments required to the Age and Specification Policies Relating to Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicles (as attached at appendix 1 to the report), is delegated to the Chair and Vice-Chair, in consultation with the Lead Opposition Member;

(2)  to authorise the following officers individually to add additional black colour codes to the list at appendix 2 to the report (should they change or otherwise  become available) following consultation with the Chair, Vice Chair and opposition spokesperson:

·  Director of Community Protection;

·  Head of City Centre Management;

·  Regional Licensing and Policy Manager.