To receive any apologies for absence, including notifications of any changes to the membership of the Committee.

Apologies for absence was received from Councillors Brook and Bryant.

It was reported that, in accordance with the wishes of the Conservative Group, the membership of the Committee had been amended for this meeting by including Councillor Chris Lewis instead of Councillor Hutchings and Councillor Tolchard instead of Councillor Foster.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on 18 July 2024.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Regulatory Committee held on 18 July 2024 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairwoman.

To consider a report that details the outcome of the second public consultation for Members further consideration and determination of the issue of unmet demand.

The Regulatory Services Manager presented the submitted report which set out the results of an Unmet Demand Survey commissioned by Torbay Council in 2023 and the second public consultation commissioned by Torbay Council and completed in August 2024. 

Members were advised that at the Regulatory Committee on 18 July 2024, Members requested the Divisional Director of Community and Customer Services be asked to arrange a further consultation upon the option of an additional 17 Hackney Carriage vehicle licences, with a further test of level of service to be undertaken within 6 months of all the additional licences being issued. 

Furthermore, an additional clarification report was also requested from the representative of the Licensed Survey Vehicle & Assessment (LVSA) to explore the impact on the suggested tranche of 20 extra plates and whether this was likely to remove the significant unmet demand. 

The Regulatory Services Manager requested Members to consider the additional clarification report, and the results of the 6 week public consultation carried out in August 2024.  Members also received a presentation from Mr Ian Millership from the LVSA who set out the additional clarification report and responded to questions from Members. 

Representations were also received from Mr Ray Hall from Torbay Licensed Taxi Association and Jacqui Nickels from Torbay United Licensed Drivers Association.

Resolved:

That the current numerical limit be increased to 189 Hackney Carriage Vehicles, with a further unmet demand survey being undertaken within six months of plate number 189 being issued at a cost to the trade and at a time which is comparable to the survey period before them, to ensure that a future Regulatory Committee can determine accurately, whether there remains an unmet demand.

In addition, Members determined that there shall be a Policy change, to reflect the numerical limit increase to 189 Hackney Carriage Vehicles.

Reasons:

Having carefully considered the reports, consultation responses and oral representations, Members unanimously agreed on the evidence before them, that there was a significant unmet demand in Torbay.

Members noted that there were a number of factors that may have contributed to the current significant unmet demand and whilst there are measures in place to address some of these, such as improved engagement between the Licensing Authority and the trade, identifying suitable, adequate, and accessible rank locations arising out of Torbay Council’s regeneration plans within Torquay and Paignton, and noting that there has been progress on other factors identified by the trade as a cause, such as financial incentives to work late and early morning hours to service the night time economy and partnership work between the trade, Torbay Council, and Devon and Cornwall Police around customer and drivers safety, their remains an extremely high level of significant unmet demand which requires steps to improve customer satisfaction and in turn and importantly, reduce vulnerability and increase the safety of users, especially in the evenings and early hours of the morning.

Having regard to the Department for Transport (DfT) Best Practice Guidance which advises that most licensing authorities do not impose  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.