6 ADOPTION OF A TAXI AND PRIVATE HIRE LICENSING POLICY PDF 333 KB
REPORT OF THE LICENSING MANAGER
To consider the responses to a public consultation and adopt a revised Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Policy.
Additional documents:
Decision:
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.
Minutes:
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.