Agenda item

Boots Corner

Councillor Garth Barnes returned as Chairman for this item.

Jeremy Williamson, Cheltenham Development Task Force Managing Director attended the Committee to answer Members questions and concerns.  The following points were made.

The Development Task Force MD stated that he had spoken to the County Council who raised points about a similar controlled zone in Gloucester.  Their experience showed that Hackney Carriage and Private Hire vehicles when not being used for business became private cars which still used the controlled zone.  There was a difficultly controlling Private Hire vehicle’s as they are more seasonal.  The decision was to allow Hackney Carriage vehicles access through the controlled area but no Private Hire vehicles.

A Member asked The Development Task Force MD why the Licensing Committees previous discussions and points had not been forward on to him.

The Licensing Officer confirmed that after discussions with the Licensing Committee a letter was sent to the Cheltenham Development Task Force MD and the County Council expressing the Committees views and concerns.

Private Hire vehicles are more commonly booked for longer journeys with vehicle originating from outside of Cheltenham therefore the vehicle would not be on the controlled vehicle list anyway.

Members raised the following concerns and questions;

• A Member felt this would discriminate some drivers.
• A Member felt the County Council had got this wrong.  The purpose of controlling the Boots corner area was to reduce traffic.  It would be more sensible to cease both Private Hire and Hackney Carriage vehicles.  The topic the County Council had also overlooked was the location of the Hackney Carriage rank in Pittville Street, access to this rank if through Boots corner.  The Member suggested moving this Hackney Carriage rank to Winchcombe Street.  Another rank near by was located at Bennington Street.  Problems within the trade would be caused if only Hackney Carriage vehicles were given access.
• A Member objected to only Hackney Carriage vehicles having access to this controlled area.  Members of the public do not know the difference between Hackney Carriage and Private Hire vehicles and felt that Private Hire vehicles need more identification.
• The Licensing Officer confirmed that the law requires Hackney Carriage vehicles to have a plate placed on the back of the vehicle and there is not a law to enforce this for Private Hire vehicles.
• A Member felt there would be enough buses using this controlled area and that both Hackney Carriage and Private Hire vehicles should not have access.  If access was granted this area would become part pedestrianised which defeated the object.
• A Member felt having one or the other trade would cause inequality.  The Member was concerned that events that happened in Gloucester were having an affect on decisions made in Cheltenham.  The Member asked the Cheltenham Development Task Force MD what was going to be done about this and residents of Cheltenham needed to be considered.  This Licensing Committee were determined to make a decision.
• The Cheltenham Development Task Force MD said a unitary debate would decide which vehicles would use the controlled area.  This system would not work without any vehicular access and concerns about customers having access to Marks & Spencers would be eased if Hackney Carriages were given access.  Notes from today’s Licensing Committee would be taken back to the County Council for further views to be made.
• A Member stated that not all disabled customers would be able to use buses and taxis are needed for a door to door service.
• The Cheltenham Development Task Force MD said this comment reinforced why the group had suggested Hackney Carriage have access to this area.  A balance decision needed to be made to ensure all customers were able to access this area.
• A Member said the Licensing Committee wanted to treat Hackney Carriage and Private Hire driver’s equally.  Both should be allowed access or neither but not one or the other of the trade.

The Chairman confirmed that the Committee were happy for The Cheltenham Development Task Force MD to take the previous discussions and today’s concerns back to the County Council for a view to be made.

A Member said the Licensing Committee should stick to their previous decision of both trades having access to the controlled area or neither of the trade.

The Chairman confirmed that the Licensing Committee all agreed this and asked that the Cheltenham Development Task Force MD takes this view back to the County Council.

The Cheltenham Development Task Force MD confirmed he would do this.