Taxi-Cab Plate: Licence Approval: Red Cabs

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A decision made 18 April 2016:

Decision Reference: MD-T-2016-0036

Decision Summary Title :

Application for a Company Taxi-Cab Plate – Red Cabs

Date of Decision Summary:

15 April 2016

Decision Summary Author:

Head of DVS &

Inspector of Motor Traffic

Decision Summary:

Public or Exempt?

Public

Type of Report:

Oral or Written?

Written

Person Giving

Oral Report:

N/A

Written Report

Title :

Application for a Company Taxi-Cab Plate – Red Cabs

Date of Written Report:

15 April 2016

Written Report Author:

Deputy Inspector of Motor Traffic

Written Report :

Public or Exempt?

Public

Subject: To obtain the agreement of the Minister for Infrastructure to grant Red Cabs a Company Taxi-Cab Licence (Red Plate).

Decision(s): The Minister agreed to grant Red Cabs a Company Taxi-Cab Licence (Red Plate) for use on a six seater vehicle.

Reason(s) for Decision: To remain in keeping with the Minister’s decision as part of the Taxi Reform and increase the amount of available wheelchair accessible taxi-cabs. To enable Red Cabs to offer a wheelchair service to the public whilst maintaining the availability of a six seater vehicle and to also enable them to offer employment to PSV Taxi-Cab badge holders.

Resource Implications: None

Action required: Head of DVS to advise Red Cabs of the decision and take any other necessary action in support of the decision.

Signature:

Position:

Minister for Infrastructure

Date Signed:

Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

Taxi-Cab Plate: Licence Approval: Red Cabs

DEPARTMENT FOR INFRASTRUCTURE

DRIVER AND VEHICLE STANDARDS

APPLICATION FROM RED CABS FOR A COMPANY TAXI-CAB PLATE

PURPOSE OF THE REPORT

To obtain the agreement of the Minister for Infrastructure to grant Red Cabs a Company Taxi-Cab Licence (Red Plate).

BACKGROUND

A white plate driver with a six seater vehicle, who is affiliated to Red Cabs, has recently purchased a five seater wheelchair accessible vehicle to replace their six seater vehicle.

DISCUSSION

Red Cabs do not wish to lose the availability of a six seater vehicle to service their customers. They are therefore asking the Minister to agree to grant them a Red Company Plate to use on the six seater vehicle. This will enable Red Cabs to maintain their six seater service to the public and increase Red Cabs’ overall service, by making available the wheelchair accessible vehicle for the public. It will also enable them to offer employment to PSV Taxi-Cab badge holders.

Red Cabs currently have four white plate drivers affiliated to them and have an additional driver who is employed as a second driver on his father’s yellow plate and who is also connected to Red Cabs via their app. Effectively, this means Red Cabs have five available drivers.

OPTIONS

Option 1: Agree to grant Red Cabs a Company Red Plate, thereby increasing the availability of wheelchair accessible vehicles to the public by one, whilst maintaining the availability of the six seater vehicle and enable Red Cabs to offer employment to PSV taxi-cab badge holders.

Option 2: Refuse to grant Red Cabs a Red Company Plate and lose the availability of the six seater vehicle and the opportunity for red cabs to employ PSV Badge holders.

INFORMATION

One of the other taxi companies have recently relinquished one of their Company Red Plates, thereby reducing the overall number available by one. If Red Cabs are granted a Red Plate, it will return the overall number of plates available to the previous amount.

RECOMMENDATION

There is merit in granting Red Cabs a Company Red Plate as it is in keeping with the taxi reform by increasing the number of wheelchair accessible vehicles whilst also maintaining the availability to the public of a six seater vehicle.

The Minister is asked to agree to option 1 and grant Red Cabs a Company Red Plate for use on a six seater vehicle.

REASON FOR DECISION

To remain in keeping with the Minister’s decision as part of the Taxi Reform and increase the amount of available wheelchair accessible taxi-cabs. To enable Red Cabs to offer a wheelchair service to the public whilst maintaining the availability of a six seater vehicle and to also enable them to offer employment to PSV Taxi-Cab badge holders.

ACTION REQUIRED

Head of DVS to advise Red Cabs of the decision and take any other necessary action in support of the decision.

Written by: Senior Traffic Officer.

Approved by: Director of Transport.