Decision details

The Committee received a report from the Team Manager (Commercial & Licensing).

The Officer’s report advised that under the powers conferred to Cambridge City Council under the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 and the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, (as amended), Cambridge City Council has responsibility for licensing Hackney Carriage, Private Hire and Dual Licence Drivers as well as vehicle proprietors and Private Hire Operators within the City.

The Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing policy (the ‘policy’) was produced in order to provide the Council, its officers, the trade and the public with appropriate guidelines that put the Council’s licensing requirements into practice in a clear and transparent manner. In exercising its discretion in carrying out its regulatory functions, the Council shall have regard to the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing policy document.

At Full Licensing Committee on 28 January 2019, Members agreed for a public consultation to be undertaken on the existing Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy. The Consultation took place from 4 February 2019 until 10 March 2019.

Members were requested to review responses received during the public consultation and determine if:

       i.          There should be a mandatory requirement for Hackney Vehicles or Private Hire, or both Hackney Vehicles, Private Hire to carry card payment method to accept debit/credit card payments.

     ii.          The addition of information on NR3 should be added to policy.

Members were also requested to consider the timescale for implementation.

In response to the report, the Committee supported the introduction of card payment facilities in licensed vehicles.

The Team Leader (Environmental Health and Licensing Support) said the following in response to Members’ questions:

       i.          NR3 was not a statutory database. Local Authorities were encouraged to sign up to it as it was a good scheme. It was thought that the neighbouring councils had either signed up or were in the process of signing up to NR3, this included Wolverhampton and South Cambs.

     ii.          It was a lengthy process to review the NR3 database so officers proposed to only do so when a licence was due for renewal. If councillors wanted more frequent checks (eg every 6 months) then a change to policy was recommended.

   iii.          (Reference agenda pack P49).

a.    It was illegal to display a sign refusing credit card payments that were less than £10.

b.    It was illegal to add credit card service fees to the journey charge.

c.    There were exceptional circumstances where credit card payments could be cancelled by the card holder, but they would need to demonstrate they had not approved/authorised payment.

The Committee:

Considered responses received from the consultation (Appendix C of the Officer’s report) and unanimously agreed:

       i.          The mandatory requirement of card payment methods to be applicable for both Hackney and Private hire vehicles.

     ii.          The addition of NR3 information.

Considered and agreed the following proposed implementation plan:

   iii.          The installation of payment card machine will need to be in place at the next vehicle Certificate of Compliance, as of 12 August 2019.

   iv.          Changes in the Policy in relation to NR3 with immediate effect.