Taxi Liaison Group - 10/06/2008

At a MEETING of the TAXI LIAISON GROUP held at Dundee on 10th June, 2008.

 

Present:-

 

DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES

 

Lord Provost John R LETFORD

Bailie Roderick A J WALLACE

Councillor Helen DICK

Councillor David BOWES

Councillor Andrew DAWSON

 

TAXI TRADE REPRESENTATIVES

 

Bill RATTRAY, Dundee Private Hire Ltd

George HARRIS, Tay Taxis

Graeme STEPHEN, Dundee Taxi Association

John CURRAN, Tele Taxis

Erik THORESEN, Dundee Wheelchair Taxi Association

Chris ELDER, Transport and General Workers' Union

Ian WHITTON, Handy Taxis

 

TAYSIDE POLICE REPRESENTATIVES

 

Cammy FORBES, Tayside Police (Constable)

Alec SELFRIDGE, Tayside Police (Constable)

 

OFFICERS

 

Brian WOODCOCK, Senior Solicitor, Licensing

Mark DEVINE, Planning and Transport

Ian McCANDLESS, Dundee Contract Services

 

Lord Provost John R LETFORD, Convener, in the Chair.

 

I CCTV IN TAXIS

 

(a) PRODUCT OFFERED BY CYGNUS AUTOMATIVE LTD

 

Steve Cartwright and Harry Derbyshire of Cygnus Automative Ltd, England gave a joint presentation on the CCTV product provided by their Company for installation in vehicles operated as taxis.

 

The Group noted accordingly upon which Mr Derbyshire and Mr Cartwright left the meeting.

 

(b) PRODUCT OFFERED BY CABS CCTV

 

Jim Harris, Sales Manager of Cabs CCTV gave a presentation on the product offered by his Company for installation in taxis.

 

The Group noted accordingly, following which Mr Harris left the meeting.

 

The Group then gave discussion to the merits of both products, whereupon they agreed that the system offered by Cygnus Automative Ltd best met their needs and that the matter be remitted to the CCTV Working Group for further consideration and to report back to a future meeting of the Group.

 

II MINUTE OF PREVIOUS MEETING

 

The minute of meeting held on 19th February, 2008 was submitted and noted for information and record purposes.

 

III TAXI LIAISON GROUP MEMBERSHIP - HANDY TAXIS REPRESENTATIVE

 

It was reported that Handy Taxis had confirmed that their representative on the Taxi Liaison Group would be Mr Ian Whitton.

 

The Group noted accordingly.

 

IV TAXI FARES

 

The proposed fares structure submitted by Dundee Taxi Association and the Transport and General Workers' Union was discussed and agreed and the Group agreed to recommend this to the Licensing Committee subject to the luggage surcharge being increased from 20p to 30p per item.

 

V FARES NOTICE DISPLAY ON VEHICLE WINDOW

 

Brian Woodcock explained that a transfer sign had been produced to be displayed in an appropriate window in taxis which would give details of fares for the benefit of members of the public. Mr Woodcock explained that it was a condition of licence that prices in relation to fares be available for inspection by members of the public and it was considered that this may be a useful way of providing that information within the vehicle. Ways in which fares were displayed in taxis currently were discussed, including the use of a fare card. The Group were advised that the window sticker could be used in substitution for, or in addition to, the fare cards. Supplies of the stickers would be made available at Support Services and Contract Services.

 

VI TAXI TEST

 

Constable Forbes explained the reasons behind the revision of the knowledge part of the taxi test and the present day position in Dundee. Sample papers were tabled for inspection of Group members and these were handed back at the conclusion of the meeting.

 

The Group agreed that the examples contained within the test were an improvement on what was currently offered and agreed to their introduction.

 

 

 

 

Lord Provost John R LETFORD, Convener.