Private hire licence numbers year on year

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Glasgow Taxi Association

Dear North Lanarkshire Licensing Board,

Glasgow Taxi Association would be grateful if you could provide the following statistics:

(1) Total number of private hire driver licences for EACH fiscal year from April 2012 until April 2015.

(2) Total number of private hire vehicle licences for EACH fiscal year from April 2012 until April 2015.

(3) Number of persons GRANTED a private hire driver's licence for EACH fiscal year from April 2012 until April 2015.

(4) Number of private hire vehicle licences GRANTED for EACH fiscal year from April 2012 until April 2015.

(5) Number of persons GRANTED a private hire driver's licence for EACH fiscal year from April 2012 until April 2015, where the applicant's address stated is outwith the North Lanarkshire council area.

Yours faithfully,

Glassgow Taxi Association
Clyde Offices
2nd Floor
48 West George Street
Glasgow G2 1BP

Keachie Jacqueline, North Lanarkshire Licensing Board

Dear Sir/Madam

I refer to your e-mail dated 1 June 2015 seeking information in relation to private hire licence numbers.

Having investigated, my response to your questions 1-5 is as follows:-

(1) The number of private hire driver licences in force during the period 2012/2013 to 2014/2015 is as follows:-

2012/2013 – 925
2013/2014 – 1,068
2014/2015 – 1,229

(2) The number of private hire car licences in force during the period 2012/2013 to 2014/2015 is as follows:-

2012/2013 – 863
2013/2014 – 979
2014/2015 – 1,127

(3) The number of private hire driver licence applications granted during the period 2012/2013 to 2014/2015 is as follows:-

2012/2013 – 369
2013/2014 – 398
2014/2015 – 425

(4) The number of private hire vehicle licences granted during the period 2012/2013 to 2014/2015 is as follows:-

2012/2013 – 272
2013/2014 – 355
2014/2015 – 460

(5) I regret to advise you that there is no data set that easily enables us to extract the information you seek and in terms of Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act I must advise you that the information requested as sought is not held.

That being said, however, the Council undoubtedly holds records on private hire drivers licences which include the applicant’s address and scrutiny of these records would no doubt enable the Council to compile the information you seek. That, however, would require dedicated scrutiny and manual interrogation of over 1,200 drivers files to extract the necessary information. That, as you will appreciate, would be highly labour intensive and I have to advise that the cost of so doing would exceed the amount prescribed for the purposes of Section 12 of the Act by the Regulations made by the Scottish Ministers.

I can advise that North Lanarkshire Council, having regard to the provisions of Section 21 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, has established a procedure whereby any person who has requested information and is in any way dissatisfied with the decision on that request, can within forty working days require a review of that decision by writing to the Executive Director of Corporate Services, Civic Centre, Windmillhill Street, Motherwell ML1 1AB. Accordingly, if you are dissatisfied with this decision and seek such review please write to the Executive Director of Corporate Services.

I would advise, also, that in terms of Section 47 of the Act a person who is dissatisfied with a notice given by the local authority under Section 21 of the Act - ie. a notice following a review of a decision by a local authority, or by the failure of a local authority to give such a notice - may make application to the Scottish Information Commissioner for a decision as to whether, in any respect specified in that application, the request for information to which the requirement relates has been dealt with in accordance with the Act. Such an application must be in writing or in another form which, by reason of it having some permanency is capable of being used for subsequent reference - for example a recording made in audio or video tape - must state the name of the applicant and an address for correspondence and must specify the request for information to which the requirement for review relates, the matter which gave rise to the applicant’s dissatisfaction with the original decision of the local authority and the matter which gives rise to the applicant’s dissatisfaction with the decision on review by the local authority or the failure of the local authority to issue such a decision. The Scottish Information Commissioner can be contacted as follows:-

Scottish Information Commissioner
Kinburn Castle
Doubledykes Road
St. Andrew’s
KY16 9DS

I hope this information is sufficient for your purpose. If, however, you require further information – or I can assist in any other way – please let me know.

Yours sincerely

Jacqueline Keachie
for Freedom of Information Co-ordinator
North Lanarkshire Council
Civic Centre
Motherwell
ML1 1AB
01698 302232

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Glasgow Taxi Association

Dear Keachie Jacqueline,

On behalf of all at Glasgow Taxi Association, please accept our thanks for your swift and transparent response.

Yours sincerely,
Glasgow Taxi Association

Keachie Jacqueline, North Lanarkshire Licensing Board

I am currently out of the office. All e-mails will be forwarded  to a
member of the Freedom of Information Team, who can be contacted on 01698
302 232.