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Decision Maker: Licensing Committee
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
To agree to adopt the revised Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy (& Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Handbook).
The Committee received a report from the Licensing & Enforcement Manager regarding the
Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy.
The Committee then
debated the Officer’s report.
The Committee made the following comments in response to the report:
i.
Welcomed the increased training requirements around
safeguarding, domestic violence and equalities. Suggested that these should
also be offered to bus drivers.
ii.
Welcomed the move towards greener technologies.
iii.
Acknowledged that there was currently no suitable
electric vehicle with wheelchair access.
iv.
Praised the work that officers had done to engage
the taxi trade in on-going improvements and acknowledged the initial work on
this matter undertaken by former City Councillor, Councillor Rosenstiel.
In response to Members’ questions the Licensing & Enforcement Manager said the following:
i.
Although they had not formally responded to the
consultation process, the taxi trade had been consulted and were supportive of
the proposals.
ii.
All drivers were required to complete Disclosure
and Barring Service (DBS) checks every three
years.
iii.
Enforcement was robust within
Cambridge.
iv.
South Cambs District Council currently
operated under slightly different rules.
The Committee noted an additional recommendation as
follows:
The policy will be effective for a maximum of
5 years but will be kept under constant review.
The Committee:
Resolved
(unanimously)
i.
To adopt the draft policy attached as Appendix E of
the officer’s report to the report as Cambridge City Council’s Hackney Carriage
and Private Hire Licensing Policy with immediate effect.
ii.
Noted the contents of the “Hackney Carriage and
Private Hire Handbook” (Appendix F) and agree that this is adopted as an
operational guide to the policy with immediate effect.
iii.
Agreed the exceptions to the changes with immediate
effect as detailed in the implementation plan below:
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Area |
Implementation Date |
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Mandatory
attendance at Accessibility & Equality Training as part of the
application for new drivers. |
The
training will be encompassed with the Safeguarding Training for all new and
existing licence holders. Existing
licence holders will take place from November 2016. New
licence applicants will take place from April 2017. |
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Environmental
Considerations for consideration which detail potential measures to
facilitate the uptake of low emission taxis in Cambridge:
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The
points detailed are for agreement in principle with a view to implementation
once funding has been agreed by OLEV (Office for Low Emission Vehicles). |
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DVSA
Driving Test |
In
light of the changes from the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency, an
implementation date of January 2017 will be from when an alternative driving
assessment method will be implemented by the City Council. |
iv. The policy would be effective for a maximum of 5 years but would be kept under constant review.
Report author: Vickie Jameson
Publication date: 31/10/2016
Date of decision: 17/10/2016
Decided at meeting: 17/10/2016 - Licensing Committee
Accompanying Documents:
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