Our Ref:          FOI-2735-1819

Thank you for your request received on 17 January 2019 asking for information about the taxi age limits workshop held on 14 January.
 
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) and our information access policy. We hold some of the information you require.
 
We do not hold any audio recordings from this meeting. Please find attached correspondence regarding the organisation of this meeting. In accordance with TfL’s obligations under Data Protection legislation some information has been withheld from the attached correspondence, as required by Regulation 13 of the EIR. This is because disclosure of this personal data would be a breach of the legislation, specifically the first principle of Article 5 of the General Data Protection Regulation which requires all processing of personal data to be fair and lawful. It would not be fair to disclose this personal information when the individuals have no expectation it would be disclosed and TfL has not satisfied one of the conditions which would make the processing ‘fair’.
 
This exception to the right of access to information is an absolute exemption and not subject to an assessment of whether the public interest favours use of the exception.
 
In accordance with the EIR, we are not obliged to supply minutes or notes as these are subject to a statutory exception to the right of access to information under Regulation 12(4)(d). In this instance the exception has been applied as the material is part of the process of formulating and developing policy, as this process is not yet complete.
 
We intend to consult on proposals to reduce the taxi age limit to 12 years by 2022. The 15-year age limit would be strictly mandated in 2019, with a proposed reduction in the age limit by one year, per year until a 12 year age limit is reached. The age limit for Euro 6, LPG and ZEC taxis is proposed to remain at 15 years.
 
The work to consider the potential impacts of the proposals has not yet been complete and further engagement with the Taxi trades is required. The final decision on reducing taxi age can only be addressed following extensive stakeholder engagement with the trades.
 
The use of this exception is subject to an assessment of the public interest in relation to the disclosure of the information concerned. We recognise the need for openness and transparency by public authorities, and the interest in understanding the impacts of possible changes to the exception, which would directly affect drivers and operators of taxis, and which would seek to mitigate the effects of pollution and congestion in central London.
 
Before a decision is made we recognise that there will be speculation whilst changes are under consideration. The Information Commissioner’s guidance on Regulation 12(4)(d) says that the need for public authorities to have a ‘thinking space’ for policy development was recognised in the original proposal for the Directive that led to the Environmental Information Regulations. The disclosure of the requested information would deny us the ‘thinking space’ to investigate and consider the impact of possible policy decisions and report back to the Mayor on its findings. In this instance we feel that the balance of public interest lies in favour of withholding the information at this time to ensure sufficient engagement and consideration is undertaken before the consultation process begins.
 
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for some reason, please feel free to contact me.
 
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.

Yours sincerely

Gemma Jacob
Senior FOI Case Officer
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London

[email protected]

Attachments