Availability of Wheelchair Accessible Taxis/PHVs- Schools /SEN & Social Services Contracts
Dear Cumbria County Council,
I am undertaking a study of availability of wheelchair accessible taxis and private hire vehicles (PHVs) , collectively 'WAVs' . Council contracts can often occupy a large proportion of licensed WAVs at key times which are then not available for hire by other wheelchair users.
Please supply a list/spreadsheet/link etc showing the current contracts and providers of WAV transport for your schools/SEN /Social Services. Please show their business contact details (preferably phone numbers). I will need to contact a sample as part of the study.
If possible, please indicate if the contract provides for a Personal Assistant.
There can be some uncertainty as to whether a WAV driver with a medical exemption certificate (wheelchair or assistance dog) can delegate responsibility to a Personal Assistant for operating vehicle lifts, ramps ,hoists, restraints etc . If you have a policy or instruction on this, please include it.
Yours faithfully,
Dick Fowler
Dear Mr Fowler
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000
REFERENCE: FOI 2017-0851
Thank you for your request for information regarding wheelchair accessible
taxis and private hire vehicles, which was received on 31^st October.
The council aims to provide you with the information within the statutory
timescale of 20 working days in this case the date is 28^th November.
Subject to the information not being exempt or containing any references
to third parties.
The council will, as a matter of routine make information available in
electronic format. Where it is not practical to do this information will
be provided in hard copy (paper). If information is required in
alternative formats e.g. language, audio, large print, etc., please
indicate this as soon as possible so the council can consider your
request.
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 and Environmental Information
Regulations 2004 define a number of exemptions/exceptions which may
prevent information being released to you automatically. The council will
make an assessment about the application of any exemptions/exceptions and
issue you with a decision letter, which will include details of your right
to appeal.
If the information you request contains reference to a third party the
council will consult with them prior to making a decision about the
release of information.
In accordance with the council’s [1]Charging Policy a fee may be charged
for supplying information. If a fee is payable you will be issued with a
fees notice. The applicable fee must be paid in full before the
information is processed and released. The statutory time limit for
responses is suspended until the council has received and processed your
payment. If payment is not received within three months of issuing the
fees notice your request will be closed.
If you have any queries or concerns about this email then please contact:
Information Governance Team
Resources and Transformation
Cumbria County Council, Cumbria House, 117 Botchergate, Carlisle, CA1 1RD
Email: [2][Cumbria County Council request email]
Telephone: 01228 221234
This e-mail contains confidential information (which may also be legally
privileged) and is intended solely for the use of the intended named
recipient. If you are not the intended recipient you may not disclose,
copy, distribute or retain any part of this message or its attachments. If
you have received this message in error please notify the originator
immediately by using the reply facility in your e-mail software. Incoming
and outgoing emails may be monitored in line with current legislation. All
copies of the message received in error should be destroyed. Any views or
opinions expressed are solely those of the original author. This email
message has been scanned for viruses, and declared to be virus free at the
point of exit from Cumbria County Council's network.
http://www.cumbria.gov.uk/_
References
Visible links
1. http://www.cumbria.gov.uk/council-democr...
2. mailto:[Cumbria County Council request email]
Dear Mr Fowler
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000
REFERENCE: FOI 2017-0851
Please see attached for a response to your request for information.
Yours sincerely
Information Governance Team
Resources and Transformation • Cumbria County Council
Cumbria House • 117 Botchergate • Carlisle • CA1 1RD
E: [1][Cumbria County Council request email]
T: 01228 221234
This e-mail contains confidential information (which may also be legally
privileged) and is intended solely for the use of the intended named
recipient. If you are not the intended recipient you may not disclose,
copy, distribute or retain any part of this message or its attachments. If
you have received this message in error please notify the originator
immediately by using the reply facility in your e-mail software. Incoming
and outgoing emails may be monitored in line with current legislation. All
copies of the message received in error should be destroyed. Any views or
opinions expressed are solely those of the original author. This email
message has been scanned for viruses, and declared to be virus free at the
point of exit from Cumbria County Council's network.
http://www.cumbria.gov.uk/_
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[Cumbria County Council request email]
Dear Information Governance,
Reference your reply dated 21 December 2017:
a) please send me the link to the WAV driver /PA Code of Practise which i could not find.
b) note that i have referred the whole issue of WAV providers phone/contact details and the Personal Data Exemption (DPA s40(2)) to the Information Commissioners Office. There is a huge variation in practise between the approx 350 Taxi/PHV licensing authorities plus the 100+ Local Authorities which contract WAVs.
c) note also that for example Carlisle LA list on their website the phone numbers of all licensed WAV taxi/phv providers, including some which you are witholding. Beeline for example seem at first look to have almost as many contracts as WAVs, implying that these WAVs will not be available for other wheelchair users at key times. Raw DfT/ Transport Scotland WAV taxi/phv statistics might be wrongly taken to mean that all are available at all times. True availability is a key part of this study.
Yours sincerely,
Dick Fowler
Dear Mr Fowler
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000
INTERNAL REVIEW ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
REFERENCE: FOI 2017-0851
Thank you for your email received 15 January 2018. This follows the
disclosure that we sent to you on 21 December 2018 in response to your
request about wheelchair accessible taxis and private hire vehicles.
As you are dissatisfied with the way your request has been handled your
request will now be considered through the Council’s internal review
process. The internal review will be carried out by Steve Tweedie,
Information Governance & Risk Manager.
The internal review stage is an opportunity to consider the request
afresh. The decision about disclosure made by the council will be
considered, in the light of all the relevant information.
Following the internal review the Council aims to respond within 20
working days, in this case by 12 February 2018. If for any reason we are
unable to meet that timeframe we will let you know.
If you are not satisfied with the council’s internal review you have the
right to appeal to the Information Commissioner (contact details provided
below):
First Contact Team
Information Commissioners Office
Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF
Telephone: 0303 123 1113
E-mail: [1][email address]
Online: [2]ICO Complaints Form
If you have any queries please contact us.
Many thanks
Bridget Sanderson
Information Governance Team
Resources & Transformation | Cumbria County Council
Cumbria House | 117 Botchergate | Carlisle | CA1 1RD
t: 01228 221234
e: [3][Cumbria County Council request email]
This e-mail contains confidential information (which may also be legally
privileged) and is intended solely for the use of the intended named
recipient. If you are not the intended recipient you may not disclose,
copy, distribute or retain any part of this message or its attachments. If
you have received this message in error please notify the originator
immediately by using the reply facility in your e-mail software. Incoming
and outgoing emails may be monitored in line with current legislation. All
copies of the message received in error should be destroyed. Any views or
opinions expressed are solely those of the original author. This email
message has been scanned for viruses, and declared to be virus free at the
point of exit from Cumbria County Council's network.
http://www.cumbria.gov.uk/_
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.ico.gov.uk/complaints/~/media...
3. mailto:[Cumbria County Council request email]
Dear Mr Fowler
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000
REFERENCE: FOI 2017-0851
Please see attached Internal Review response for your attention.
Yours sincerely
Steve Tweedie
Information Governance & Risk Manager
Resources and Transformation • Cumbria County Council
Cumbria House • 117 Botchergate • Carlisle • CA1 1RD
E: [1][Cumbria County Council request email]
T: 01228 221234
This e-mail contains confidential information (which may also be legally
privileged) and is intended solely for the use of the intended named
recipient. If you are not the intended recipient you may not disclose,
copy, distribute or retain any part of this message or its attachments. If
you have received this message in error please notify the originator
immediately by using the reply facility in your e-mail software. Incoming
and outgoing emails may be monitored in line with current legislation. All
copies of the message received in error should be destroyed. Any views or
opinions expressed are solely those of the original author. This email
message has been scanned for viruses, and declared to be virus free at the
point of exit from Cumbria County Council's network.
http://www.cumbria.gov.uk/_
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[Cumbria County Council request email]
We work to defend the right to FOI for everyone
Help us protect your right to hold public authorities to account. Donate and support our work.
Donate Now