Skip to main content

Agenda item

Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy Review

Purpose:

To provide the Sub-Committee with an opportunity to review the Draft Standards for Licensing Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers in advance of a consultation exercise.

Recommendations:

(a)       That the Sub-Committee considers the draft Standards for Licensing Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers and Operators at Annex C and the draft policies and table of delegations at Annex D; and

(b)      That, subject to any further amendments, the proposed consultation exercise to seek the views of the trade and relevant stakeholders on the revised policy be approved.

 

Minutes:

The Sub-Committee received and considered the report of the Service Leader, Licensing and Business Support, which provided it with the opportunity to review draft Standards for Licensing Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers prior to the undertaking of a consultation exercise which would precede the further consideration of the matter and the anticipated adoption of a Policy in the autumn.

 

In introducing the report and its appendices, the Chairman thanked those involved for all the work associated with the preparation of the documents for the meeting, before inviting members of the Sub-Committee to raise comments or queries. He also observed that the Council’s current standards/policy were such that it was starting this review from a strong position. The following matters were mentioned:

 

·         In noting that paragraph 1.5 of the statutory taxi and private hire vehicle standards set out in Annex A did not include vulnerable adults in relation to safeguarding, the Sub-Committee was advised that this could be included in the Council’s revised policy

 

·         Arising from paragraph 5.3 of Annex A relating to training of members making licensing decisions, the Chairman suggested what is included in resolution (b) below, noting that current members of the Sub-Committee were trained by experience and previous legal advice, and that it was appropriate for the Council to formalise the requirement for training in the future

 

·         In relation to paragraph 5.12 of Annex A and the test of determining whether an applicant was a “fit and proper person”, the Sub-Committee was advised that the wording in that section was proposed to be included in the revised policy to be approved later in the year

 

·         The fact that it was proposed that the future review of and consultation on vehicle standards would include views on a mandatory requirement for CCTV

 

·         The proposal in Annex C for revocations to be delegated to officers without the need for prior consultation with the Chairman of the Sub-Committee was queried, and the Service Leader explained that the proposal reflected changes in the statutory standards where there were serious safeguarding concerns

 

·         The question of whether attendance at a speed awareness course should be required to be notified to the Council, it being noted that information as to such attendance was not available generally meaning that the Council could not check on or take action arising from non-disclosure

 

·         The position in relation to diabetes as set out in paragraph 8 of Annex C, with the proposed additional medical requirement, which was an approach being developed in Oxfordshire, as opposed to being part of the statutory standards, and which would result in additional cost to the driver

 

Following this consideration, the Sub-Committee –

 

RESOLVED:

 

(a)   That the draft Standards for Licensing Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers at Annex C to the report, and the draft policies and delegations in Annex D to the report be approved as the basis for the proposed 12 week period of consultation, subject to the incorporation of any changes arising from the discussion summarised above; and

 

(b)  That Council be recommended to agree that any members newly appointed to this Sub-Committee shall be required to attend suitable training as agreed by the Service Leader, in consultation with the Chairman of the Sub-Committee, prior to participating in any decisions, with this requirement to apply similarly in respect of any temporary appointments for a particular meeting of the Sub-Committee.

 

 

Supporting documents:

 

Related Pages