The Licensing Committee convened to discuss the relocation of a taxi stand on Progress Road. The committee approved the revocation of the existing taxi stand and the installation of a new one on the same road, pending a statutory consultation process. They also delegated authority to The Director of Regeneration, Housing and Regulatory Services and The Head of Regulatory Services to install the new stand if no objections are raised during the consultation.

Relocation of Taxi Stand on Progress Road

The committee considered a report regarding the relocation of the taxi stand on Progress Road to accommodate a new bus stop. This bus stop is intended to support the new Department for Transport (DfT) Grant supported bus service 23A and 23B, which connects Leigh-on-Sea Railway Station to Southend Airport and Airport Business Park via Eastwood.

The existing taxi stand is located near the preferred location for one of the southbound bus stops. According to the report, the current taxi stand would block buses from fully pulling into the proposed bus stop, due to an insufficient turning circle.

The taxi trade has advised that the existing stand is heavily used when staff from the surrounding industrial units finish their shifts, and they would not want to lose it completely. The proposal is to create a new stand in the location indicated in Appendix A of the Public reports pack. This would comprise a split stand on either side of Brunel Road, accommodating three taxis.

The committee was asked to consider the following recommendations:

• Revoke the existing taxi stand on Progress Road, subject to the statutory consultation process, and approve the installation of a new stand on the same road.
• Delegate permission to install the new stand to The Director of Regeneration, Housing and Regulatory Services and The Head of Regulatory Services, without the need to return to the Licensing Committee for further permission, in the event that there are no objections or representations during the consultation.

The report outlined that the alternative to relocating the taxi stand would likely cause congestion and obstruction to traffic, as buses would not be able to pull into the bus stop fully. The cost of removing and reinstalling the taxi stands on Progress Road, as well as the statutory advertisement, will be met by DfT Bus Grant Funding.

The report also cited the relevant legal and policy context for the decision:

The provisions for revoking and installing taxi stands for hackney carriage vehicles are contained in the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 Section 63(2). The statutory consultation required by the Act will be undertaken.

A separate traffic regulation order will be required under The Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, dealt with by The Highways Team.

The report stated that the proposal supports Southend-on-Sea City Council's adopted transport policies, including the Local Transport Plan (LTP3), the Southend Bus Service Improvement Plan, and Local Plan Policy DM15 (Sustainable Transport Management).

The committee resolved to approve the recommendations.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting

The committee resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday, 22nd July 2025, were confirmed as a correct record and signed.