Decision

That the following be
approved:
 
Removal of:
·        
3 car (24 hour) stand at the Strand, Torquay;
·        
the 10 car (12 midnight to 6am) stand at the Strand Bus Bay,
Torquay;
·        
the 4 car (6pm – 8am) stand at Torwood Street, Torquay;
·        
the 3 car (6pm -8am) stand at Torbay Road, Paignton (outside 6-8
Torbay Road);
 
Amendment of:
·        
the 8 car (24 hour) stand at Cary Parade, Torquay to operate from
12 midnight to 6am;
 
Creation of:
·        
a new 3 car (24 hour) rank at Vaughan Road, Torquay;
·        
a new 4 car (24 hour) stand at Fleet Street, Torquay;
·        
a new 4 car (24 hour) stand at the Eastern End of Torbay Road,
Paignton (near the junction of Esplanade Road);
·        
a new 3 car (24 hour) stand at the Western End of Torbay Road,
Paignton (outside 10 – 16 Torbay Road; and
·        
a new 2 car (24 hour) stand at the Western End of Torbay Road,
Paignton (outside 18-20 Torbay Road).

Reasons for the decision

It was necessary to
approve the removal and appointment of Hackney carriage stands as
prescribed under section 63 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous
Provisions) Act 1976, in order to empower Licensing Officers to
take enforcement action for any offences committed under the Local
Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 or hackney carriage
byelaws on the new rank space which had been made available
following the changes that had occurred to facilitate necessary
public realm works in the area.

Alternative options considered

The alternative
options were to reject the proposed changes, this was not considered a viable option as
the Licensing Authority would not be able to take enforcement
action on the new rank spaces.  Furthermore, there have been very few objections to
the proposals and Torbay Licensed Taxi Association, TULDA and
private hire operators have been involved in the design of the
ranks.  The provision of these new and
amended ranks would be for the benefit of the travelling public and
the taxi trade.  The Paignton Ranks
would provide nine additional taxi rank spaces that could be used
by any hackney carriage compared to the private rank at Paignton
Station which requires a GWR permit to use the rank.