Item 7 Appendix 2 - Item 7 - Availability of WAVs in Dton and VOL Taxi Zone - 15 February 2017

West Dunbartonshire Council · 18 February 2026
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WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE COUNCIL
Report by Strategic Lead - Regulatory
Licensing Committee: 15 February 2017
___________________________________________________________________
Subject: Availability of Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles in the Dumbarton
and Vale of Leven taxi zone.
1. Purpose
1.1 To update the Committee with regard to the current level of Wheelchair
Accessible Vehicles (WAVs) in the Dumbarton and Vale of Leven zone and
consider action to increase their numbers.
2. Recommendations
2.1 Officers recommend that in future all vehicles proposed for use as a taxi or
private hire car with a carrying capacity of 5 or more passengers be
wheelchair accessible. 
3. Background
3.1 The Committee will be aware that the Clydebank taxi zone has a 100%
compulsory WAV fleet and the Dumbarton and Vale of Leven zone has a
mixed fleet comprising of both saloon vehicles and WAVs.
3.2 The Halcrow demand survey carried out in 2013 suggested that the Licensing
Authority look to increase the number of WAVs in the Dumbarton and Vale of
Leven zone with an aspiration to achieving 20% of the overall fleet.
In August 2013, the Committee;
i. committed to address the finding that there is an insufficient number of
wheelchair-accessible vehicles operating within the Dumbarton and Vale of
Leven zone;
ii. agreed that the Council should aspire to have a taxi fleet of which 20% are
wheelchair-accessible and;
iii. instructed officers to consult with representatives of the taxi trade in
Dumbarton and Vale of Leven about the various options that could achieve
the Council’s aim to have sufficient numbers of wheelchair accessible vehicles
operating in the Dumbarton and Vale of Leven zone, in particular to have a
taxi fleet of which 20% is wheelchair-accessible and thereafter, to report back
to the Committee with a recommendation.
3.3 The number of WAVs operating in the Dumbarton and Vale of Leven zone taxi
fleet in January 2017 is 14 vehicles, the same number as reported to
Committee in 2013. The total number of taxis operating in the Dumbarton and
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Vale of Leven zone is 177. This represents 7.9 % of the taxi fleet which is a
wheelchair accessible vehicle.
3.4 The Dumbarton and Vale of Leven zone currently has 20 Private Hire Car
licences, 3 of which are WAV’s. Although the Halcrow report is specific to
taxis it is worth noting that WAV availability is supplemented by private hire
cars and these WAV numbers are slowly increasing. 
4. Main Issues
4.1 In 2013 Halcrow suggested that a WAV fleet of 20% could be aspired to.
However with the exception of large city authorities, this level of WAV
provision does not appear to be the norm. Of the comparable authorities that
responded to the request for information, the following percentages were
provided; Stirling Council (as at September 2016) has 15.2%, and North
Ayrshire (as at January 2017) has 15.3%. Inverclyde (as at January 2017) has
9.6%. East Renfrewshire (as at January 2017) has 2.6% and East
Dunbartonshire does not currently track their WAV percentages.
4.2 It is difficult to acquire a national picture as the percentages fluctuate on a
regular basis but through consultation with the Scottish Civic Government
Enforcement Officers Group it is apparent to officers that the WAV numbers in
the Dumbarton and Vale zone are at least average when looking at
comparable areas. None of the comparable areas have 20%.
4.3 Consultation with the West Dunbartonshire Access Panel with regard to the
sufficiency of WAV vehicles within the Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Zone.
The committee in 2013 directed officers to consult with the taxi trade. Officers
also consulted with wheelchair users and those providing support to
wheelchair users. This was done through officer attendance at a dedicated
meeting of the West Dunbartonshire Access Panel and through a “Survey
Monkey” questionnaire issued to email addresses held on record by the
Council’s Equality Officer.  
4.4 The direct consultation with West Dunbartonshire Access Panel in April 2016
revealed that it is harder to obtain a WAV between 3pm and 6pm. This is
likely due to the demand for WAV’s for the purpose of educational contract
hires at this time. However there have been no formal complaints to this effect
and this is therefore anecdotal in nature.
4.5 The West Dunbartonshire Access Panel consultation of April 2016 had a
consensus view that the current availability is inadequate. The Access Panel
committee have asked that the Licensing Committee consider the Access
Panel’s view that the need for WAV’s may increase due to an ageing
population and a predicted reduction in the number of wheelchair users
qualifying for ownership of their own adapted vehicle.

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4.6 The Access Panel were asked to submit a formal response however this was
not forthcoming so officers have relied on the notes taken at the Access Panel
meeting in April 2016.
4.7 Two “Survey Monkey” responses were received from individuals (contained at
Appendix 2), one being a wheelchair user, and the other a provider of support
to a wheelchair user. Both found that it was generally possible to get a WAV
by contacting the booking offices directly but it was harder to access a vehicle
on a rank. One respondee commented that often a WAV was more easily
available for the outbound journey from home, but not the inbound journey,
when requesting a vehicle from a booking office.
4.8 Consultation with the taxi trade within the Dumbarton and Vale of Leven zone.
A direct consultation with taxi operators resulted in the majority opinion that
the current level of WAV’s in the Dumbarton and Vale zone is acceptable as
WAV numbers are more than sufficient to meet the actual demand of users.
The trade responses advised that should demand increase, this would be
catered for by the trade. A detailed summary of these responses is at
Appendix 1. 
4.9 The issue of WAV numbers in the zone has also been raised and considered
at several recent meetings of the West Dunbartonshire Taxi Licensing Forum
in 2016. The Taxi Forum’s views have mirrored that of the consultation
responses received from taxi operators.
4.10 Following the issue of the consultation questionnaire, (Appendix 3) 6 options
were laid out for comment. Those questions or options and a summary of the
majority answers are detailed below;
The options and general responses are set out as follows;
i) A discounted license fee for WAV’s.
Even though this would generally be welcomed by the trade this will have
minimal impact on the cost effectiveness of purchasing a WAV.
ii) Replacement of non WAV with a WAV when the operator changes vehicle.
This was a generally unpopular option with the trade.
iii) Replacement of vehicle with 5-8 seats with a WAV when the operator
changes the vehicle.
Even though this was still unpopular as a measure with the trade it still
received some support if it was necessary to implement some positive
measures.
iv) Replacement of non WAV with a WAV when the operator’s licence is
transferred to another person.

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The trade was equal in its’ support and opposition to this measure. It is
recommended that this would not apply in non-business circumstances i.e.
death of the licence holder.
v) Creation of 20 new licences reserved for new WAV operators.
The vast majority of the trade were against this measure as it would likely
have a serious detrimental economic impact on all operators. Comment to
officers from several current WAV operators stated that they would
possibly give up their WAVs if this was introduced as the market would be
“flooded” with more WAVs than there is a demand for.
vi) Abolish the distinction between the two taxi licensing zones.
This was opposed by almost all operators as it is believed that the
Dumbarton and Vale zone would stand to lose the most economically from
this measure.
4.11 Two other measures were suggested by members of the trade;
1.) Four respondees suggested that it should be a condition of the booking
office licence to ensure that they provide a WAV or ensure a WAV is
available.
2.) Two respondees suggested that any operator who has more than one
vehicle licensed as a taxi should make the second and any subsequent
licensed vehicle a WAV.
4.12 Officers considered several options which are detailed below before making a
recommendation;
Option 1: Officers considered the results of the consultation outlined above
and the lack of complaints received and concluded that demand is currently
being met and no direct action needs to be taken to increase the availability of
WAV’s in the Dumbarton and Vale of Leven zone.
Option 2: Replacement of vehicle with 5-8 seats with a WAV when the
operator changes the vehicle. These operators currently benefit from the
higher tariffs available when carrying five or more passengers without offering
wheelchair availability. Officers believe that this option would increase WAV
numbers, has seen support from members of the taxi trade, and should have
minimal detrimental impact on the taxi trade. 
Option 3: Creation of 20 new licences reserved for new WAV operators. The
majority of the trade who responded to the consultation process stated that
this would be unpopular. 
Option 4: In order to achieve a figure of 20% of the fleet, providing that the
existing 14 wheelchair accessible vehicles remain so, an additional 21 plates

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would require to be made available. If the existing 14 wheelchair vehicles
were not included in the calculation, an additional 45 licences would require to
be made available.  Any newly issued licences, other than transfers, would
have the stipulation that they must always operate using a wheelchair
accessible vehicle. This option, not consulted on, would likely be as unpopular
to the trade as Option 3 above.
Option 5: Amalgamate the Clydebank and Dumbarton and Vale of Leven taxi
zones. A policy would have to be agreed in advance to ensure the retention of
at least 20% of the overall fleet as WAVs in the longer term. This option was
opposed by the Dumbarton and Vale of Leven taxi trade for economic
reasons during consultation and the Clydebank trade have not been consulted
on this option.
4.13 It is recommended that authority be delegated to the Strategic Lead –
Regulatory in consultation with the Chair of the Committee to agree for the
allocation and application of new licences phased in over a period of two
years if members decide to implement Option 3 or Option 4.
4.14 Officers will continue to monitor the position of WAV numbers in this area and
at a national level and any changes to legislation that may overtake any
locally adopted position with regard to WAV numbers. Particularly any
changes that occur through the Equality Act 2010 will be reported to the
Committee.
5. People Implications
5.1 There are no personnel issues associated with this report.
6. Financial Implications
6.1 There are no financial implications to the Council associated with this report.
7. Risk Analysis
7.1 No risks to the Council were identified.
8. Equalities Impact Assessment (EIA)
8.1 An equalities impact assessment was carried out. This shows that an increase
in WAV numbers would have potential benefits to wheelchair users but
equally a potentially detrimental economic impact on members of the taxi
licensed trade. 
9. Consultation
9.1 Consultation on the content of this report was carried out with the Council’s
Equality Officer, the West Dunbartonshire Access Panel, taxi operators in the
Dumbarton and Vale of Leven zone, West Dunbartonshire Taxi Forum,
members of the West Coast of Scotland Civic Government Enforcement

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Officer’s group and members of the public who are wheelchair users or assist
a wheelchair user via the West Dunbartonshire Community Forum.
9.2 All formal consultations were open for a six week period however in practice
responses were allowed for some time after this in the interest of receiving the
maximum amount of views.
10. Strategic Assessment
10.1 This report assists in maintenance of the following strategic priority:
• Improve the well-being of communities and protect the welfare of
vulnerable people.
Peter Hessett
Strategic Lead – Regulatory
Date: 30 January 2017
Person to Contact: Lawrence Knighton, Licensing Standards Officer, Council
Offices, Garshake, Dumbarton G82 3PU.
Lawrence.Knighton@wdc.gcsx.gov.uk 
tel: 0141 951 7986
Appendices: 1) Summary of taxi trade responses
2) Responses from wheelchair users or carers
3) Trade consultation questionnaire
Background Papers: 1. Trade consultation responses
2. Equality Impact Assessment
Wards Affected: All