Taxis not affiliated to companies (FOI)

Request

A

How many taxis are not yet affiliated to a Private Hire Firm (or other recognised booking entity)?

B

It is understood that due to Covid-19 that the planned change to a single category of Taxi has been delayed past 31 March 2021 please provide a copy of the letter being sent to all Taxi Drivers that are affected by the delay setting out the revised timescale and requirements for them to convert to Purple Plates.

Response

A

There are currently 43 Taxi drivers who are not yet affiliated to a recognised company or booking entity.

B

On account of COVID-19, the policy in respect of timeframes for completion of the transition is under review. As such, those affected in the Industry will be informed at the earliest opportunity.

The release of any further information regarding any proposed changes to the policy regarding a single category of taxi is exempt under Article 35 (Formulation and development of policies) of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 until the policy has been finalised.

Article applied

Article 35 - Formulation and development of policies

Information is qualified exempt information if it relates to the formulation or development of any proposed policy by a public authority.

We are withholding the release of the information you have requested as it relates to the formulation and development of policy and procedure

Article 35 is a qualified exemption, which means that a public interest test is required.

The following considerations were taken into account:

Public interest considerations favouring disclosure

• disclosure of the information would support transparency and promote accountability to the general public, providing confirmation that the necessary discussions have taken place.

• disclosure to the public fulfils an educative role about the early stages in policy development and illustrates how the department engages with parties for this purpose.

Public interest considerations favouring withholding the information

• in order to best develop policy and provide advice to Ministers, officials need a safe space in which free and frank discussion can take place – discussion of how documentation is presented and provided is considered as integral to policy development as iterations of documents are demonstrative of the policy development process.

• the need for this safe space is considered at its greatest during the live stages of a policy.

• release of the information at this stage might generate misinformed debate. This would affect the ability of officials to consider and develop policy away from external pressures, and to advise Ministers appropriately.

• premature disclosure of this information may limit the willingness of parties to provide their honest views and feedback. This would hamper and harm the policy–making process not only in relation to this subject area but in respect of future policy development across wider Departmental business.

Following assessment, we have decided that on balance the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.