Issue - meetings

This report is presented in response to the recommendation made at the Executive meeting of 20 January 2009 to explore the possibility of introducing an electronic, stored value, taxi-card to replace the national transport tokens being issued to entitled disabled residents.

RESOLVED: (i)         That the contents of the report be noted.

                        (ii)        That approval be given to progress Option 1 and to replace the provision of national transport tokens for eligible disabled people with a stored value taxi-card.

                        (iii)       That the new level of the concession be set at £55 per annum when the taxi-card is introduced.

REASON:      To deliver an alternative concession to the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENTS) for those who for reasons of disability cannot use the bus, which will deliver the best value and be fit for purpose.

Members considered a report prepared in response to their request, made at the Executive meeting on 20 January 2009, to explore the possibility of introducing an electronic, stored value taxi-card to replace the national transport tokens issued to disabled residents.

The report outlined the costs and implications of introducing a taxi-card and presented the following options for consideration:

Option 1 – replace the provision of national transport tokens with a stored value taxi-card and allow officers to conduct a tendering exercise, working with the taxi industry and disability group representatives to deliver best value and a product fit for purpose. 

Option 2 – withdraw the provision of an alternative concession to the bus pass.

Option 3 – retain the existing arrangement for distribution of national transport tokens.

Option 1 was recommended, on the basis that this was considered the best way to ensure that eligible residents would benefit as intended from the Council’s travel concessions expenditure, at a comparable cost to the current token scheme.  Informal meetings had been held with the two principal suppliers of taxi cards in the UK, to understand the functionality of the product and the timescales for its introduction.  Consultation had taken place with the Taxi Licensing team and the York Action Group and a meeting had been held with private hire and hackney cab operators to understand their concerns about the proposed scheme.  Responses to questions posed at this meeting were detailed in Annex A to the report.

RESOLVED: (i)         That the contents of the report be noted.

                        (ii)        That approval be given to progress Option 1 and to replace the provision of national transport tokens for eligible disabled people with a stored value taxi-card.¹

                        (iii)       That the new level of the concession be set at £55 per annum when the taxi-card is introduced.

REASON:      To deliver an alternative concession to the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENTS) for those who for reasons of disability cannot use the bus, which will deliver the best value and be fit for purpose.