Agenda item
Public Participation
At this point in the meeting members of the public who have registered their wish to speak regarding an item on the agenda or an issue within the Committee’s remit can do so. The deadline for registering is 5:00pm on Monday 11 December 2017.
Filming or Recording Meetings
Please note that, subject to available resources, this meeting will be filmed and webcast, or recorded, including any registered public speakers who have given their permission. This broadcast can be viewed at http://www.york.gov.uk/webcasts.
Residents are welcome to photograph, film or record Councillors and Officers at all meetings open to the press and public. This includes the use of social media reporting e.g. tweeting. Anyone wishing to film, record or take photos at any public meeting should contact the Democracy Officer (whose contact details are at the foot of this agenda) in advance of the meeting.
The Council’s protocol on Webcasting, Filming & Recording of Meetings ensures that these practices are carried out in a manner both respectful to the conduct of the meeting and all those present. It can be viewed at http://www.york.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/11406/protocol_for_webcasting_filming_and_recording_of_council_meetings_20160809.pdf
Minutes:
Members were given an overview of the report. This included an officer update relating to an e mail dated 22nd November 2017 received from Neil McGonigle of Uber Britannia Limited regarding a data breach.
It was reported that there had been 12 registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme. 8 spoke in objection.
Cllr Stuart Rawlings spoke as a Member of the Staffing and Urgency Committee at which the Uber licence was considered previously. He expressed concern regarding the number of complaints made against Uber and suggested that some of this detailed information was missing from the report presented to Members.
Saf Din, Chair of the York Hackney Carriage Drivers Association spoke in objection. In his view Uber had abused their position by allowing other Uber out of town vehicles to work in York, breached traffic rules, and failed to clarify with him who the customers’ contract was with when travelling with Uber.
Saf Din handed in a petition containing 1397 signatures.The petition asks City of York Council to restrict vehicles licensed by other authorities from working in the city and for the Uber licence not to be renewed . The Democracy Officer took receipt of the petition.
Lee Ward, Chairman of A Local Private Hire Association (ALPHA) Sheffield spoke in objection. He stated that Uber operated under a number of operating names and he listed the councils that he was aware of that had not granted a licence to Uber.
Wendy Loveday, of the York Private Hire Association spoke in objection . She cited the circumstances surrounding the Uber data breach and her concerns regarding passenger safety as reasons she considered warranted refusal of the application for renewal. In response to a question from Members she clarified that legislation required such a data breach to be reported within 72 hours.
Antony Green spoke in objection, referring to the data security breach and his understanding that Uber have withheld information from the police.
Jim Love, Chairman of Fleetways Taxis spoke in objection. In his view Uber did not take the shortest possible route to their destination. He submitted printed copies of examples of the map shown on a customer’s Uber app, which he considered demonstrated this.
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Lynn Brook GMB Organiser spoke in objection. She stated that in her view Uber failed to complete drivers’ background safety checks, and that the registered office at Clifton Moor was unmanned. She also alleged that Uber drivers plied for hire and drove illegally. When asked by Members she confirmed that there were no cases in York under which Uber drivers operated without background checks, and this was information from the GMB for Uber operating in other areas. She also clarified that the background checks referred to were criminal record checks, and in York she noted that the Licensing Authority was responsible for those checks.
Mike Palmer Hackney carriage driver spoke in objection. He said the Uber office in York was empty.
Cllr Danny Myers, Ward Councillor for Clifton spoke in objection. In his view Uber Britannia Limited failed the fit and proper test for the licence and he added that the data breach may have included people living in York. He also referred to the alleged use by Uber of specialist software to restrict access to data when regulatory checks were carried out by authorities.
Neil McGonigle, Uber Head of Cities, North of England spoke in support. He stated that there had been an increase in the number of people using their service in York, increasingly by international visitors to the city. He explained:
· the use of information in the app and the ability to track journeys via the app
· the measures taken by the company when Uber drivers had been caught plying for hire
· that the company worked with licensing authorities to resolve such actions.
In response to Member questions, Mr McGonigle and the Uber legal representative present at the meeting clarified:
· Who the customer contracts for bookings and transportation were with.
· That the responsibility for undertaking driver DBS checks lies with the licensing authority.
· The driver checks undertaken by Uber are validated via technology.
· 28,000 people had used the app in York during the last three months.
· There are 10 Uber drivers licensed in York, (later corrected by the Licensing Officer that there are six).
· Customer payment is to a specific Uber company from which Uber take their fee and pay the driver.
· The obligation for vehicle checks is with the Uber driver.
· An administrative error made by Sheffield City Council was the reason for the suspension of the Uber operator licence in Sheffield.
· The company’s use of map routes and surcharges.
· The Directors of Uber Britannia Limited are also Directors of Uber London Limited.