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Agenda item

Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy

Minutes:

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:

 

         

Area

Implementation Date

 

 

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.

 

 

Environmental Considerations for consideration which detail potential measures to facilitate the uptake of low emission taxis in Cambridge:

 

1.     Renewal / Registration fee discount or exemption.

 

2.     Waive or extend age limit for ULEVs or Hybrids.

 

3.     Waive requirement for 6 month inspection

 

4.     Create an Electric Taxi only rank

 

5.     Vehicle Purchase Subsidies for Electric vehicles

 

6.     Provision of ‘Rapid - Taxi Only’ charging infrastructure

 

7.     Set date for all newly registered vehicles to be low or ultra-low emission

8.     Set date for all licensed taxi vehicles to be low or ultra-low emission

9.     Restrict City Centre Access to ULEV and Hybrid Taxis only

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).

 

 

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.

Supporting documents:

 

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