1.1  The key objectives of this survey were to establish:

a)  Any level of latent or patent unmet demand;

b)     Whether or not there was sufficient differentiation and level of service of Hackney Carriages from other forms of transport to allow the Council to support a case for retention of regulatory controls over numbers of Hackney Carriage licences.

1.2  The standard unmet demand survey indicated that there were small, but not significant levels of patent unmet demand.

1.3  These occurred at peak times on the Orange Grove rank on 74 passenger occasions during 2770 minutes of observation and 1661 passenger movements. They averaged 4 minutes 40 seconds, but were usually over peak periods of less than 15 minutes.

1.4  It is our belief that when the remaining two licences are fully utilised and several of the other new licensees are fully utilised even such brief waits as these will disappear.

1.5  The proximity of the issue of new licences so close to the survey means that there impact can only be measured as a percentage of the whole licence as indicated through our drivers survey.

1.6  The public survey indicated that whilst only 15.5% were prepared to wait 20 minutes +, at night a huge 52.8% felt that in reality that that was the case.

1.7  This creates a difference between our observations and the public perception.

1.8  Our observations took place between one and two months after the issue of the new licences. The main element of the public, use the service once a month.  Our belief is that the high public figure reflects the historic situation prior to licence issue.

1.9  Findings from the rank survey, our observations and discussions with the police showed the need for a full re-organisation, with the cessation of several ranks, and the concentration on a second 24 hour rank that could be supported by the trade and the police fully.

1.10  The only other level of unmet demand at the Bath Spa Station consisted of 74 passenger waiting times average 2 minutes 30 seconds during 2300 minutes of observation and 1292 passenger movements.

1.11  This was often due to changes in the rail timetable due to their own problems that caused a build up of trains following delays.

1.12  Fees do have to be paid to South West Rail to use the station rank, which is on private land, this situation is partly self-regulating. If drivers believed that there was any unmet demand they would apply to use the rank, paying the relevant fee.

1.13  Average driver waiting time in Bath Spa station is 7 minutes 40 seconds.

1.14  Public Interviews do however, make mention of “waits at the station”

1.15  There was no evidence of any latent demand on or around any other rank. We witnessed no evidence of Private Hire “plying for hire” and no fruitless public waiting at other locations.

1.16  All of this has led to the following recommendation for a no increase in licences at present. However, we would hope that 1 or 2 more licensees apply for the right to service Bath Spa station.

1.17  We would recommend no further increase in the next twelve months, as we witnessed no unmet demand.

1.18  We further recommend that:

• Two new licences be issued in the year 2006
• Two new licences be issued in the year 2007
• Two new licences be issued in the year 2008
• Two new licences be issued in the year 2009
  These are in accordance with anticipated increases in both population and tourism figures. We recommend that they should be for full disability access vehicles.
• In view of the proposed rank changes and to keep abreast of local development, and national guidelines An interim mini survey, either internal or external, should take place in 2007-8 to assess any changes in demand
• A full external survey takes place in 2009-2010 to assess the level of unmet demand
• We further recommend that even allowing for staged increase in numbers, an interim and final survey that the situation is constantly monitored when ranks are changed or new facilities are completed.
  
  Should de-zoning be introduced at any time there would be no requirement to issue any new licences outside the surveys as an increased supply would become available as a result of that action. Department of Transport Consultancy document on Best Practice recommended the abolition of zoning.
  
  However, in Bath and North East Somerset such an action may not necessarily be helpful to the public and could result in a lack of service in the county zones, where evidence of a rank or hailing Hackney service is at 20% or less.
  
  Should Bath & North East Somerset elect to de-restrict numbers we would strongly recommend that all new licences issued are for fully disability access vehicles

1.19  In every other respect the Hackney Carriage service is providing an excellent service (public survey) (disability groups), with safe and secure vehicles and drivers (public survey) acting in the traditional manner of the service (driver survey) to provide a first class service (rank observations).

Limitation of Numbers

1.20  The case to retain the right to limit numbers should the Council decide to follow this course of action is relatively strong:

• There is a clear demarcation between Hackney Carriages and Private Hire services;
• This is determined by their activities rather than in appearance;
• With 90.1% of Hackney Carriages obtaining their work from the ranks or from being “hailed” the integrity of their service is still maintained.
• 53.5% of the public rate the service as good 13.9% as excellent. These ratings are very good but not the highest in recent KNW surveys;
• Through our observations we can assess that the service integrates well with South West Rail, but has no specific rank that allows it to integrate with the bus station;
• The existing fleet appear to be using meters and are well controlled both internally be their peers and externally by the council;
• The public survey indicates that the public respect the safety and security of the Hackney Carriage service; but they are also complimentary about the Private Hire service;
• The police are happy with the performance of the Hackney Carriages in clearing the town, although they would appreciate a few more Hackney Carriages late on Friday and Saturday night.  The recent 20% increase in Hackney Carriages should, when they are all fully operational, satisfy that need. The licensing department should contact the police on a half yearly basis to establish that demand is still being met as far as the police are concerned.

1.21  Bath & North East Somerset Council has three major issues to consider:

Unmet Demand - We believe that following the recent issue of 18 (20% increase ) more licenses that there is no significant unmet demand. However, this has been difficult to assess due to the close proximity of the issuing of licences immediately prior to commissioning the report, This is further exacerbated by the lack of a presence of a number of the newly licensed vehicles and the knowledge that two plates are not yet in use. However the bottom line of the survey is that even allowing for these factors their is no significant unmet demand according to our observations.

Zoning - The Department of Transport Best Practice guidelines discussion document Aug2005) recommends the abolition of zoning. We would recommend a continuation of zoning.  For the following reasons:

• The drivers from zone 2 carry out only a minimal amount of rank and “hailed” work  (driver survey/ rank observations.)
• The public from the zoned areas are more critical of their Hackney Carriage Service already.
• De-zoning could lead to a near cessation of a Hackney Service in that area

Delimitation - Bath & North East Somerset has a good case for claiming the right to limit numbers. The service works well with Hackney Carriages and Private Hire working together in a level of harmony.  We would recommend that the rank organisation is completed to everyones satisfaction before any move to delimit is considered.

We would recommend in any event that any new licence issued either under control or following delimitation should be for a fully disability access vehicle.