Minutes of Brighton & Hove Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Consultation Forum Held on 23 May 2012
Present;
(TN) T Nichols BHCC (Chair) (JC) J Cranford BHCC (MS) M Seymour BHCC (MK) M Kennedy BHCC (RF) R Findlay BHCC (Minutes) (SS) S Simmonds BHCC (JO) J Oram Unite the Union (JH) J Howell B & H Streamline (JS) J Streeter B & H Streamline (IS) I Saidaroos Independent (GH) G Hakim Btn Sudanese Taxi Forum (SR) S Rahman U.T.D Association (MS) M A H Salim M A H Salim (MA) M Albayyouk ATA (KA) K Alsaadi ATA (AF) A Faisal Nasseri Afghan Taxi Forum (TT) Tony Turner B & H Radio Cabs (JE) Jeff Elliott BHCC (Highway Services) (AC) A Cheesman City Cabs (JS) J Smith GMB (MH) M Hildreth GMB (JdF) J DeFalco B & H PHA (MD) M Durell B & H PHA
1. Apologies; Peter Castleton, Geraldine Des Moulin
Item Minute Action
Introductions were made
2 Minutes from last meeting
Agreed
. 3 Traffic Management/Ranks – Jeff Elliott
Olympic Torch Route - 16th and 17th July - JE has a meeting with the police on the 31st May regarding the Olympic torch route. The aim is to keep traffic disruption to a bare minimum. The only planned closures include the usual cricket ground scenario (Eaton and Palmeira) and by Hove Park (Goldstone Crescent). Stewards will be required and present, the police and the flame convoy will be rolling through before the runners.
JE suggests there may rumours about closures but please only listen to him. The disruption should be just for an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening. The torch is coming by vehicle from Chichester, Lancing then along the A27, stopping around snaky hill where runner/s will take over. JE
Diamond Jubilee (weekend beginning 1st June) - JE confirmed he has not allowed any main roads to be closed, further information on this will be available in the traffic bulletin released on Friday (25th JE May).
Old Shoreham Road – The works are still ongoing, there were queries as to when this will be completed, JE will find out and advise an approximate completion date.(Update below)
UPDATE from JE 25/05/2012: Old Shoreham Road will re-open to general traffic on 1st June. Siemens still have some work to do at the signals and as such there will be temporary lights in place until 13th June and perhaps some snagging until 15th June.
There is a public event on 16th June in BHASVIC fields and and official launch (MPs and ministers attending) on Monday 18th June between 8.30-9.30am on BHASVIC fields.
On 6th June, CA traffic will be cutting loops for the speed camera and cycle counters. They will do this outside peak operation and for a maximum of 4 hours.
John Street – Advice was also given that AMEX construction has asked for an extension to the closure of John Street until July. JE North Street – A number of reports have identified the materials used to build the trenches are questionable. JE is currently in negotiation with Southern Gas Networks etc regarding compensation. JE should have an answer in a couple of months, including how this will be corrected. Pride – MS advised that the one way system on Queens Road will not be a temporary rank, the rank is going to be at the rear of the station. JE would also like to see how everyone feels about reopening London road on pride day, after the parade has been through?
AC – Advised of an incident which occurred between drivers and the door staff which led to an assault on the driver. This was over the smoking barriers outside Pavilion Tavern and Sugarcube bar which were placed on the loading bay which becomes part of the east street rank. The trade asks that the barriers being there be looked into.
JE will not be able to make the next forum, but Dexter David will attend in his absence.
4. Medicals – Mick Hildreth
MH – Advised that with the exception of the Private Hire Association, all others have voted against the offer from Dr Sarah Perry to take over the medicals. However they are grateful for the offer.
5 Forum Constitution/Membership
There was a short discussion on who should/should not be members, and whether all criteria should be met. TN made it clear he would not be happy with excluding anyone.
It was agreed that further discussion on this can be deferred.
6 Law Commission – Tim Nichols
TN – Explained that he recognises that the old system is archaic and continued to explain how the council and the trade may have different interests and so may view the 74 questions the law commission is asking differently. Initial thoughts are that the council would be particularly interested in 4 areas, the ability to restrict numbers, the ability to set tariffs, the ability to set standards and assisting passengers.
There were some comments as to whether the trade and council would be working together or independently in answering these questions. However It was agreed that due to the importance of this a dedicated meeting should be held.
Provisionally this is scheduled for the next forum meeting on the 4th July.
7 Sussex Police - J Streeter, A Cheesman, A Faisal Nasseri, K Alsaadi , J Smith, J Oram T Nichols
JS – Advised that he is not happy with the responses from the police in a number of cases. He is still waiting for adequate replies from Peter Castleton. These are based on;
2 Cases of Criminal Damage (one where a warning was issued and one where it wasn’t) and an occurrence of bilking where a mobile phone was taken as security and problems between the driver and passenger followed.
JS would like a definitive answer given to the trade on what criminal damage is, specifically why the outcomes of the 2 incidences of criminal damage above were treated differently.
TN – Agreed we can take this forward as there should not be any inconsistency of enforcement, the end result should always be the same.
AC – Advised a recent case where a female driver was sexually assaulted at Brighton Marina and it took 40 minutes for the police to attend. This is an example of where drivers need backup from the police.
A FN – Described an occurrence of bilking that he recently experienced, he has CCTV available and a card payment declined slip which identifies the customer. Despite advising the police this he has been waiting 2 weeks for them to contact him.
KA – Raised a concern that the time it takes for drivers to make statements keeps them off the road and the police have been using this against drivers to discourage them from continuing with allegations.
JSmith – Aware of a number of other cases of bilking and the police are either not turning up or are still giving advice that bilking is a civil matter. He would also like to remind the police that a year or so ago they were going to provide information flyer/cards in the vehicle that explain the law on bilking to customers. JO – reminded the forum that this is a similar approach that Liverpool has undertaken.
MD – Suggested conditional cautions have worked in the past, there was some agreement in the forum.
8 CCTV – G Hakim, T Nichols
GH – Questioned whether CCTV will be reviewed.
TN – advised that a petition by a number of the ‘Chauffeur’ drivers was presented to the licensing committee, this resulted in the committee asking for a future reports on how CCTV is doing.
It was then agreed to Defer any further discussion on CCTV.
AC – Advised that he is aware of a camera system that is available for £350.00, which includes no charge for the 1st year for downloads.
9 Fares – J Oram
JO – Advised he has had a meeting with Tim/Jean and it has been agreed that the trade will be applying for an increase of 20p per journey.
10 Enforcement - M Seymour
MS – Advised of current enforcement;
2 cases of refusal to carry (for short journeys) 1 case of refusal to carry (gentlemen and his guide dog) 1 application has been refused 2 drivers have been suspended 1 driver revoked There was recently a hit & run by a taxi (into another vehicle) on Boundary Road in Portslade. MS asks if anyone has any information, it would be greatly appreciated.
MS commented that upcoming demonstrations may cause disruption.
11 Items for next meeting
Law Commission
12 Date of Next Meetings
4th July 2012