RULING cabinet members will meet in March to discuss a requirement for CCTV in Hackney taxi carriages.

The council’s licensing officers were successful in their bid to the government’s Transport Innovation Fund, paving the way for free-of-charge cameras to be fitted in order to boost safety for both drivers and passengers.

However, following its previous consultation when more than 500 drivers were contacted about the scheme, just 39 responses were received.

Of those, 29 per cent declined the free camera, while almost half said they would not agree to pay for a camera’s maintenance costs if the move became mandatory.

A further consultation began in October and is set to run until January 3.

Councillors will meet on March 5 following the consultation, and then will implement the mandatory requirement at a full council meeting later that month.