Issue - meetings

The Committee received a report from the Environmental Health Manager.

The 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 Licensing Authority seeks to carry out its licensing functions with a view to promoting the following objectives:

      i.          The safety and protection of the public;

     ii.          Vehicle safety, comfort and access;

   iii.          The prevention of crime and disorder;

   iv.          The promotion of environmental sustainability;

    v.          Protection of children and adults at risk from harm.

As a Licensing Authority, Cambridge City Council ensure all licensing activities are carried out in line with its policies.

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.

The aim of the Policy is primarily to protect the public as well as to

ensure that all the above objectives are met.

The current Hackney Carriage & Private Hire Licensing Policy applies to all drivers, vehicles and operators and was last updated in October 2019.

In response to Members’ questions the Environmental Health Manager said the following:

      i.          A full Equality Impact Assessment would be undertaken in future.

     ii.          A language proficiency test was proposed as part of a knowledge test for drivers. The Equality Impact Assessment would review how this could be done. A knowledge test that requires language proficiency was in place already. This was a statutory requirement, so no applicants would be discriminated against. Licensing Officers were working with the Equalities Officer to ensure drivers of all nationalities would be given a fair test.

   iii.          drivers were required to sign up to an on-line Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check under current licensing policy.

   iv.          The City Council was issuing guidance to drivers on ‘what/how to do’ when driving people in lockdown. Drivers could refuse to transport people without a mask. Drivers could be accredited to show they had undertaken training.

    v.          Fees and charges for DBS were set out in another report in the agenda pack. There was an annual fee of £13 per year for a DBS check once drivers had signed up to the system and paid a £40 fee. There were no other costs for drivers at present. Support offered to drivers by the City Council:

a.    A licence fee reduction.

b.    An option to pay by instalments.

c.    Drivers could ask for their licence to be suspended if they were not (currently) driving.

The Committee:

Resolved (by 8 votes to 0) to:

      i.          Approve the new standards, as written as new licence conditions, policy requirements and procedures. Described in proposed changes in Appendix A and Appendix C to the Officer’s report.

     ii.          Approve the proposed implementation time scales, as detailed in Appendix C of the Officer’s report.

   iii.          Approve that the new standards as written as new licence conditions, policy requirements and procedures be added to the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy, and published by 5th February 2021.

Councillor Gehring did not take part in the discussion or decision making on this item.