Issue - meetings

The purpose of this report is to review the operation of the Duncombe Place taxi rank in light of the anti-social behaviour that takes place in this area late at night and during the early hours.

RESOLVED                 That the Cabinet Member agreed:

(i)           That the Duncombe Place taxi rank should continue to operate as a 24 hour rank.

(ii)          That the head of the rank be relocated further towards the Museum Street Junction.

(iii)        That the existing shelter  near the existing head of the rank be removed.

(iv)        That the Council continues to work with North Yorkshire Police to aid their efforts in combating the anti social behaviour that takes place.

(v)         That Councillor Williams, the Cabinet Member for Crime and Community Safety be asked to look at issues in the area.

REASONS:

(i)           Due to demand for a taxi rank in that location and there being no practical way to prevent individuals from using it to seek a taxi.

(ii)          To enable clearer more reliable CCTV monitoring of the head of the rank.

(iii)        To remove a potential focus for rowdy activity and to improve the street scene.

(iv)        To try to resolve the concerns of residents.

(v)         To try to resolve the concerns of residents.

The Cabinet Member considered a report which reviewed the operation of the Duncombe Place taxi rank in light of anti-social behaviour taking place in the area late at night.

Officers provided an update and reported that Inspector Henderson who is responsible for city centre policing had confirmed that the Police have no issues with the rank. A further two letters had been received making similar comments to that of the residents.

The Cabinet Member advised that it is difficult to strike a balance between trying to manage the needs of the night time economy with that of residents and agreed option 3 as a first step. He recommended that the Police re-look at what they do in terms of enforcement at the rank and would ask the Cabinet Member for Crime and Stronger Communities to look into issues in the area.  He also suggested that Reinvigorate York could look at the relocation of the rank or alternative ranks for the city centre.

RESOLVED                 That the Cabinet Member agreed:

(i)           That the Duncombe Place taxi rank should continue to operate as a 24 hour rank.¹

(ii)          That the head of the rank be relocated further towards the Museum Street Junction.

(iii)        That the existing shelter  near the existing head of the rank be removed.

(iv)        That the Council continues to work with North Yorkshire Police to aid their efforts in combating the anti social behaviour that takes place.

(v)         That Councillor Williams, the Cabinet Member for Crime and Community Safety be asked to look at issues in the area.

REASONS:

(i)           Due to demand for a taxi rank in that location and there being no practical way to prevent individuals from using it to seek a taxi.

(ii)          To enable clearer more reliable CCTV monitoring of the head of the rank.

(iii)        To remove a potential focus for rowdy activity and to improve the street scene.

(iv)        To try to resolve the concerns of residents.

(v)         To try to resolve the concerns of residents.