Agenda Item 3
EAST RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL
LICENSING COMMITTEE
5 December 2023
Report by Clerk to the Licensing Committee

WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE VEHICLE POLICY

PURPOSE OF REPORT
1. To seek Committee’s approval to commence a consultation with the trade, public and
relevant disability rights groups to provide information to inform potential changes to
the Council’s current wheelchair accessible vehicle policy.

RECOMMENDATION
2. That the Committee authorises the Clerk to:

(a) Commence consultation with relevant stakeholders to ingather information
regarding the current availability of wheelchair accessible vehicles to the public
and the demand for such vehicles;

(b) Undertake an Equalities Impact Assessment to inform any future changes to
the policy; and

(c) Bring a further report to Committee in early 2024 with proposals as to any
recommended changes to the policy.

BACKGROUND
3. In April 2021, as a result of the financial impacts of the Covid pandemic upon
members of the taxi trade, East Renfrewshire Council Licensing Committee agreed
to relax its previous policy whereby all applications for the grant of new taxi and
private hire car licences required to be submitted in respect of vehicles which were
wheelchair accessible (WAV’s).

From that juncture, only new taxi car applications required to meet this criteria. The Committee at that time also determined to review the position once experience of the new regime had been gained.

REPORT
4. At the time of the decision to relax restrictions in 2021 the number of wheelchair
accessible vehicles operating under East Renfrewshire Licences numbered 41.

As at today’s date this number has dropped dramatically both as a result of lapsed
licences and drivers replacing wheelchair accessible vehicles with vehicles which did
not provide that facility at the time of licence renewal.

Recent investigation suggests that there are only 5 such vehicles currently licensed.

5. At the introduction of the policy, it was agreed that the policy would be reviewed to
determine its effectiveness and to decide what changes, if any, should be
implemented.

This review is now required to consider the impact of this reduction in
wheelchair accessible vehicles and to identify mechanisms which will meet the interests of both the disabled population and the trade. The review requires to be informed by the views of relevant stakeholders and on that basis authority is sought to commence a consultation with those groups over the next few months.

6. Any policy decision made by the Council which is likely to affect individuals with
protected characteristics under the Equalities legislation should be screened and
assessed for its impact prior to the policy being determined.

An impact assessment will allow the findings of such assessment to inform the Committee’s ultimate consideration of the policy.

RECOMMENDATION
7. That the Committee authorises the Clerk to:

(a) Commence consultation with relevant stakeholders to ingather information
regarding the current availability of wheelchair accessible vehicles to the public
and the demand for such vehicles;

(b) Undertake an Equalities Impact Assessment to inform any future changes to
the policy; and

(c) Bring a further report to Committee in early 2024 with proposals as to any
recommended changes to the policy.

Report Author: Gerry Mahon Clerk to the Committee and Chief Officer – Legal and
Procurement
Tel: 0141 577 3801
e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

MINUTE of LICENSING COMMITTEE
Minute of meeting held at 10.00am in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters,
Giffnock, on 5 December 2023.

Present:
Councillor Paul Edlin (Chair) Councillor David Macdonald* Provost Mary Montague*
Councillor Edlin in the Chair
(*) indicates remote attendance

Attending:
Gerry Mahon, Chief Officer (Legal and Procurement); Brian Kilpatrick, Civic Government
Enforcement Officer; Jennifer Graham, Committee Services Officer; and Lesleyann Burns,
Assistant Committee Services Officer.

Also Attending:
Chief Inspector Graeme Gallie and Sergeant Lisa Campbell, Police Scotland.

Apology:
Councillor Andrew Morrison.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
677. There were no declarations of interest intimated.

WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE VEHICLE POLICY

678. The committee considered a report by the Chief Officer (Legal and Procurement)
seeing approval to commence a consultation with the trade, public and relevant disability rights groups to provide information to inform potential changes to the Council’s current Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Policy. (Item 3 refers).

The report explained that, as a result of the financial impacts of the Covid pandemic upon members of the taxi trade, the Licensing Committee had agreed to changes to the previous Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Policy with effect from April 2021.

From that date, only taxi car applications would require to meet the Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) criteria.

The Chief Officer (Legal & Procurement) advised that only 5 WAVs were currently licensed in East Renfrewshire, a drop from 41 prior to April 2021, and that a review of the policy would be required to review its effectiveness and decide what changes, if any, should be implemented.

In response to questions from members, the Chief Officer (Legal & Procurement) confirmed
that all of the WAVs currently licenced in the area were able to accommodate a wheelchair
within the vehicle; and that the consultation would be advertised widely, in liaison with the Council’s Communications Team, and would include, but not be restricted to, contact with taxi/private hire groups, local and possibly national disability groups, community councils and the general public.

The committee agreed to authorise the Clerk to:-

(a) commence consultation with relevant stakeholders to ingather information
regarding the current availability of wheelchair accessible vehicles to the public
and the demand for such vehicles;

(b) undertake an Equalities Impact Assessment to inform any future changes to
the policy; and

(c) bring a further report to committee in early 2024 with proposals as to any
recommended changes to the policy.

End of Agenda Item 3

8/2/2024

Post ERC facebook page

www.facebook.com/eastrenfrewshirecouncil/?locale=en_GB

East Renfrewshire Council
19 h
We're currently reviewing our licensing of taxis and private hire cars policy with reference to accessibility criteria for disabled users.

As part of this process, we'd like to hear the views of drivers, booking offices and users of these vehicles, whether disabled or otherwise.

We're particularly interested in hearing views about the current availability of wheelchair accessible vehicles, current and potential demand for them and any other information which will help to determine appropriate numbers of accessible vehicles within the licensed fleet.

We'll also consider wider disability related issues including the carriage of guide and assistance dogs.

Please submit your views by 5pm on Friday 1 March 2024.

Email

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or post to,

Licensing Enforcement Officer, East Renfrewshire Council, Eastwood Park, Giffnock, G46 6UG.

More at:

orlo.uk/B4W0T