Agenda item

6.1

The Executive Director, Place submitted a report outlining objections to the introduction of three experimental taxi ranks in the City Centre and setting out the Council’s response.

6.2

RESOLVED: That:-

(a)

the experimental Traffic Regulation Order be made permanent for the three taxi ranks in accordance with the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984; and

(b)

the objectors be informed accordingly.

5.3

Reasons for Decision

5.3.1

The benefits of retaining these ranks outweigh the objections received, most of which had not been sustained.

5.3.2

The Rockingham Street Rank

The lead petitioner was contacted after the rank had been in place for several months and views sought as to the practical impact of the rank. No response was received.

The individual objectors were also contacted and two responded. Their views about the rank were the complete opposite of one another, with one saying the situation was worse than anticipated and couldn’t sleep due to the noise from the taxis and the other stating that the noise, since the rank was introduced, was no worse than before.

6.3.3

The Carver Street Rank

The lead petitioner was contacted after the rank had been in place for several months and views sought as to the practical impact of the rank. No response was received.

6.3.4

The Burgess Street Rank

A few months after the rank was put in place, the person who objected was contacted and views sought as to the practical impact of the rank. No response was received.

5.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

5.4.1

The locations of the ranks were agreed with taxi representatives, club owners and the Police.

5.4.2

No alternative options were considered. Past experience of placing ranks remote from venues has simply not worked. Most people simply walk towards their next destination and flag a taxi down on the way. The drivers waiting in the remote rank lose trade and the rank becomes little used. Picking customers up at the venue may also help to reduce anti-social behaviour and noise remote from the venue, as there are fewer people walking the streets looking for a cab.

6.5

Any Interest Declared or Dispensation Granted

None

6.6

Reason for Exemption if Public/Press Excluded During Consideration

None

6.7

Respective Director Responsible for Implementation

Simon Green, Executive Director, Place

6.8

Relevant Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee If Decision Called In

Economic and Environmental Wellbeing

6.1

The Executive Director, Place submitted a report outlining objections to the introduction of three experimental taxi ranks in the City Centre and setting out the Council’s response.

6.2

Mr Buston, a local resident, attended the meeting to make representations to the Cabinet Member. He referred to the petition in Appendix D1 which made reference to the Interim Planning Guidance on Night Time Uses and asked whether this was also relevant to Cambridge Court? In response, Dick Skelton, Senior Transport Planner, reported that the guidance did not actually apply to Rockingham Street as the petitioners had suggested and  did not believe that it applied to Cambridge Court and Carver Street.

6.3

Mr Buston further commented that extending the taxi rank to 17 spaces on Carver Street would exacerbate the problems of noise in the area and was not an appropriate location for the taxi rank. There was a rank with 10 spaces nearby away from Cambridge Court. He supported the rank on Burgess Street but asked why the Carver Street rank could not be located on Leopold Street or Cambridge Street which were more appropriate locations.

6.4

Dick Skelton stated that he did not discount that the complaints about noise were valid complaints. The issue was whether the situation had been made worse by the changes to the taxi ranks. Research had shown that if taxi ranks were made more remote people did not use them to a great extent and drivers then picked people up directly from the streets. He believed that since the ranks had been put in less people were walking about and were more inclined to get into a taxi and this helped to reduce noise from people walking about and shouting.

6.5

The Police in particular were very much in favour of the Carver Street taxi rank and had helped to reduce road safety issues caused by inconsiderate parking.

6.6

Councillor Leigh Bramall acknowledged that this was a difficult issue and the ranks had been introduced to try and improve the situation in the area. He agreed with Mr Skelton that with a dedicated taxi rank people were more inclined to get in a taxi rather than stay in the area and potentially causing noise. Carver Street had 4 nightime venues on a short narrow street so noise, unfortunately, would be an issue but it was hoped that the taxi ranks would help to reduce the problem.

6.7

Councillor Bramall further reported there had been a cap on the number of taxis some years ago but this had been lifted and it would be difficult to reduce the numbers back down at the present time. Unfortunately, the Council did not possess the enforcement capacity to deal with the noise problems all of the time.

6.8

RESOLVED: That:-

(a)

the experimental Traffic Regulation Order be made permanent for the three taxi ranks in accordance with the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984; and

(b)

the objectors be informed accordingly.

6.9

Reasons for Decision

6.9.1

The benefits of retaining these ranks outweigh the objections received, most of which had not been sustained.

6.9.2

The Rockingham Street Rank

The lead petitioner was contacted after the rank had been in place for several months and views sought as to the practical impact of the rank. No response was received.

The individual objectors were also contacted and two responded. Their views about the rank were the complete opposite of one another, with one saying the situation was worse than anticipated and couldn’t sleep due to the noise from the taxis and the other stating that the noise, since the rank was introduced, was no worse than before.

6.9.3

The Carver Street Rank

The lead petitioner was contacted after the rank had been in place for several months and views sought as to the practical impact of the rank. No response was received.

6.9.4

The Burgess Street Rank

A few months after the rank was put in place, the person who objected was contacted and views sought as to the practical impact of the rank. No response was received.

6.10

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

6.10.1

The locations of the ranks were agreed with taxi representatives, club owners and the Police.

6.10.2

No alternative options were considered. Past experience of placing ranks remote from venues has simply not worked. Most people simply walk towards their next destination and flag a taxi down on the way. The drivers waiting in the remote rank lose trade and the rank becomes little used. Picking customers up at the venue may also help to reduce anti-social behaviour and noise remote from the venue, as there are fewer people walking the streets looking for a cab.