Issue - meetings

REPORT OF THE LICENSING MANAGER

To consider the responses to a public consultation and adopt a revised Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Policy.

RESOLVED:

(1)       That the responses to the public consultation on the Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Policy be noted;

(2)       That the following amendments be made to the Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Policy:

·                That the following be added into the driver code of conduct: If a diver witnesses a crime they are required to report it to the Police;

·                That Section 7 of the Policy refer to Taxi instead of Hackney Carriage.

(3)       That, subject to the amendments in (2) above, the revised Policy attached as Appendix D be adopted.

REASONS FOR DECISIONS:

(1)       The existing policy has worked well since its adoption with effect from 4 April 2018, having been revised in accordance with the provisions for minor amendments where appropriate.

(2)       The main content of the existing policy was most recently updated with effect from 4 April 2018.

(3)       With the advancement in technology and the Council’s declaration of a Climate Emergency, the Administration’s Priorities as identified in the Council Plan, and updated Climate Change Strategy 2020 the existing policy needed re-visiting to ensure that it remains fit-for-purpose and supports these corporate polices / strategic intentions.

(4)       As responses to the public consultation were limited and raised no significant opposition to any of the proposals officers have proposed a revised policy which, in their professional opinion, meets the existing policy objectives and the Council’s corporate priorities and strategy.

Audio recording – 4 minutes 49 seconds

The Licensing Officer presented the report entitled Adoption of a Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Policy together with the following appendices:

·                Appendix A - Draft Policy Published for Public Consultation Including all Options;

·                Appendix B - Summary of Consultation Responses with Officer Comments;

·                Appendix C - Full Consultation Responses;

·                Appendix D - Proposed Policy.

The following Members asked questions and took part in the debate:

·                Councillor Daniel Allen;

·                Councillor Richard Thake;

·                Councillor Mike Rice;

·                Councillor Sam North;

·                Councillor Gerald Morris;

·                Councillor Jim McNally.

In response to questions the Licensing Officer advised that:

·                Taxi owners had been asked to complete expression of interest forms in respect of non-wheelchair accessible taxis when the 10% was reached and the same process will be applied to private hire vehicles;

·                Every new vehicle must be wheelchair accessible;

·                The majority of customers requiring disabled access preferred to pre-book.

The Licensing Manager advised:

·                That there was a robust system in place regarding the granting of taxi licences.

The Service Director – Legal and Community informed Members that:

·                Here had been cases referred to appeal none of which have been lost.

Councillor Richard Thake proposed, Councillor Sam North seconded and it was:

RESOLVED:

(1)       That the responses to the public consultation on the Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Policy be noted;

(2)       That the following amendments be made to the Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Policy:

·                That the following be added into the driver code of conduct: If a driver witnesses a crime they are required to report it to the Police;

·                That Section 7 of the Policy refer to Taxi instead of Hackney Carriage.

(3)       That, subject to the amendments in (2) above, the revised Policy attached as Appendix D be adopted.

REASONS FOR DECISIONS:

(1)       The existing policy has worked well since its adoption with effect from 4 April 2018, having been revised in accordance with the provisions for minor amendments where appropriate.

(2)       The main content of the existing policy was most recently updated with effect from 4 April 2018.

(3)       With the advancement in technology and the Council’s declaration of a Climate Emergency, the Administration’s Priorities as identified in the Council Plan, and updated Climate Change Strategy 2020 the existing policy needed re-visiting to ensure that it remains fit-for-purpose and supports these corporate polices / strategic intentions.

(4)       As responses to the public consultation were limited and raised no significant opposition to any of the proposals officers have proposed a revised policy which, in their professional opinion, meets the existing policy objectives and the Council’s corporate priorities and strategy.