Decision details

The Corporate Director & Monitoring Officer agreed to the termination of the contract to provide taxi marshals as outlined in this report.

To ensure the best value is maintained.

The report suggests that marshals will continue to be provided at key times during the year. Alternative arrangements will be made to procure marshals on an ad hoc basis during these key times.
The Corporate Director & Monitoring Officer can decide not to cancel the contract.

A targeted consultation was undertaken with the local police inspector, local police licensing officer, taxi trade representatives and BID.
On the whole, there was no explicit objection to the proposal to cancel the contract. The two trade responses raised a number of foreseeable issues and consequences. However, the nature of these did not strictly fall within the scope and contractual obligations (see 2.3) and, to that extent, not strictly relevant.
Officer did respond to point out that the issues raised by the trade responses related to policy issues (i.e. card machines and taxi rank locations) and licensing enforcement matters (i.e. driver etiquette).
The outcome of the consultation, coupled with the data that supported the review, supports the authority’s proposal and best value assessment.
Informal consultation has also been undertaken with the Cabinet Member for Customer and Regulatory Services & Cabinet Member for Safety & Communities who are both in agreement with the proposals as outlined in this report.