Issue - meetings

The Committee received a report from the Head of Environmental Services regarding a current review of the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy from 2011.

 

A member of the public asked a question as set out below.

 

Mr Wratten raised the following points:

i.          He was in favour of the consultation but wanted a reassurance it would be a full consultation, he also expressed concern that the consultation would take place during July to August as this was a peak period for his staff to take holiday.

 

The Licensing & Enforcement Manager responded:

     i.        The consultation was to run for 5 weeks, which was a longer period than other consultation periods. Therefore the public should have the opportunity to provide their comments outside during this period. He also confirmed that this would fit in with the report timetable process so that a report could be brought back to the next Licensing Committee in October.

 

The Committee then debated the Officer’s report.

 

The Committee made the following comments in response to the report:

 

    i.          Asked if the safeguarding training included training on domestic violence.

  ii.          Asked who the stakeholders were that would be included within the consultation exercise.

 iii.          Welcomed DBS checks, knowledge tests and medical tests for taxi drivers as the Council had to ensure that individuals were suitable to undertake the job and protect vulnerable people.

iv.          Asked if drivers and driver organisations would be included in the consultation.

  v.          Asked if local disability charities would be included in the consultation.  

vi.          Asked if there was a requirement for taxi drivers to report medical issues to the Licensing Department after a medical had been completed as medicals appeared to only be required once every 5 years and medical issues could arise in between this period. 

vii.          Was pleased that the authority could exercise discretion to grant a licence and referred to the eligibility requirements contained at paragraph 34.5 of the policy. Commented that discretion was needed and that the Home Office was not always easy to work with.

viii.          Commented that the environmental considerations may not apply if the UK ended up outside of the EU.

 

In response to Members’ questions the Licensing & Enforcement Manager said the following:

     i.        Confirmed that the training undertaken by taxi drivers included domestic violence, disability, and all equality issues covered under the Equalities Act 2010.

    ii.        Whilst not an exhaustive list the stakeholders that would be consulted included; statutory consultees (Police, County Council, Environmental Health, Licensing Department), anyone in public service, users of the service, trade representatives who would also be asked to circulate the consultation to anyone else who had not been included on the circulation list.  A list of consultees would be circulated to Members after the Committee meeting.

   iii.        It was confirmed that drivers and driver organisations would be included within the consultation.

  iv.        Confirmed that disability groups and forums would be included in the consultation.

   v.        Confirmed that there was an obligation on drivers to report medical issues to the Licensing Department within 7 days. Drivers also had a responsibility to report medical issues to other authorities for example the DVLA. The Licensing Department did not experience issues with this and helped drivers who had to contact other authorities.

  vi.        Commented that the Licensing Department had a good relationship with the Home Office and UK Border Agency and had recently reviewed the status of every driver. There was only one driver who was found not have the right to work in the UK, action was taken to revoke their licence.

 vii.        A report on the environmental considerations would be brought back to the October meeting.

 

The Committee:

 

Resolved (unanimously)

 

i.   Approve the consultation of a revised draft policy (as per Appendix B) and process in order to adopt a final Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy at Full Licensing Committee in October 2016.

 

ii.   Agreed that the following areas of the policy were considered in

depth, reviewed and specifically consulted upon:

·        Accessibility & Disability Awareness

·        Code of Conduct

·        Driver Safety

·        DBS Update Service

·        Eligibility to live & work in the UK in accordance with the Immigration, Asylum & Nationality Act 2006

·        Enforcement Management System

·        Environmental Considerations

·        General Administration (such as notification of change of details etc.)

·        Grounds for Disbarment

·        Online Applications

·        Safeguarding Training (including fees)

·        The Taxi Guide

·        Vehicle Standards