Issue - meetings

A period of up to one hour is allocated to consider the motions on notice.  This may only be extended with the agreement of the Council.

Members considered the following notice of motion submitted by Councillor C. M. McDonald:

“That this Council takes positive action in adopting a policy that ensures all new Hackney Cabs will be wheelchair accessible vehicles.”

The motion was proposed by Councillor C. M. McDonald and seconded by Councillor S. P. Shannon.

In moving the motion Councillor McDonald referred to the difficulties those people using wheelchairs experienced when trying to travel. Many authorities had already implemented this requirement for new Hackney Carriages and in her opinion there was no reason why this Council could not do the same. It was important in furthering the wellbeing of residents.

Councillor Shannon supported the motion and referred to passengers  using the new Railway Station in Bromsgrove which was accessible but  then being unable to complete their journeys due to inaccessible Hackney Carriages.

Councillor R. L. Dent indicated she was aware of the potential benefits of  such a policy but stated that there was a report due to be considered at Licensing Committee on this matter in March 2017 and it would be more appropriate to await that report and to allow Licensing Committee to consider the matter in the light of the information contained in the report. This approach had been agreed at the recent meeting of the Committee.

A number of Members felt that there was insufficient evidence at present to make a decision on the motion and that there was a process in place which would allow for a decision to be made in March 2017. 

Some Members felt it was important to support the motion and to begin the process of requiring Hackney Carriages to be wheelchair accessible. It was recognised this would only be in new vehicles and so would take some time to come fully into force. It was stated there had already been some delay in bringing the report forward to the Licensing Committee.

As an amendment it was proposed by Councillor K. J. May and seconded by Councillor G. N. Denaro that the Council reviews the policy on wheelchair accessible vehicles in the light of the Licensing Committee debate in March 2017.  In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 18.3 a recorded vote was taken on the amendment and voting was as follows:

For the amendment: Councillors S. J. Baxter, S. R Colella, B. T Cooper, R.J Deeming, G.N. Denaro, R. L. Dent, J. M. L. A. Griffiths, C. A. Hotham, R. E Jenkins, R. J Laight, K. J. May, S. R Peters, M. A. Sherrey, R. D. Smith, C. J. Spencer, C. B. Taylor, P. L. Thomas, L. J. Turner, S. A. Webb and P. J. Whittaker (20).

Against the amendment: Councillors C. J. Bloore, M. T. Buxton, L. C. R. Mallett, C. M. McDonald, P. M. McDonald, S. P. Shannon and M. Thompson (7).

On being put to the vote the amendment was declared to be carried.

As a further amendment it was proposed by Councillor C. Bloore, seconded by Councillor C. McDonald, that the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 70