Issue - meetings

To consider the draft taxi licensing policy prior to it being published for consultation (report of the Assistant Director – Regulatory enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director – Regulatory which asked the Committee to consider the draft taxi licensing policy prior to it being published for consultation.

The Head of Public Protection introduced the draft policy and highlighted the following points:

• It was not a statutory requirement to have a policy, but the current policy was out of date.
• The key differences were:
  • Changes in legislation
  • Safeguarding and training requirements
  • Department for Transport’s National Standards, introduced two years ago, were now the statutory framework to build from.

The following parts of the policy had been updated:

• CCTV - Recommended best practice for vehicles be given as advice within the policy but having CCTV in vehicles was not mandatory.
• Vehicle Testing – a compliance test must have been carried out at an approved garage no more than 2 months before an application was submitted.
• Fit and Proper person definition – this had been lifted from the National Standards and could be referred to at future hearings.
• English Language – this section had been taken from the National Standards. The policy included suggested acceptable qualifications to show proficiency with the option to sit a test if they don’t meet the criteria.
• Cautions, convictions and related matters – this section had been updated to state that drivers must notify the council of any warnings, cautions or convictions received within 48 hours, in line with national standards.
• DBS Service – it was compulsory for drivers to subscribe to the DBS update services as per National standards.
• Renewal of Drivers Licences – There were now different requirements for renewal licences and new licences regarding tax checks.
• Immediate suspension/revocation in interests of public safety had been adopted as a policy a few years ago but had now been written into the formal policy.
• Operators – there was now a new requirement for an annual DBS check for operators on a 5-year renewal cycle.
• Booking and Dispatch Staff – more stringent requirements for staff to have a basic DBS check and for operators to have a policy on employing ex-offenders.
• Appendix A – it was recommended that the maximum vehicle age for wheelchair accessible vehicles for renewal be changed from 10 years to 12 years but still subject to an annual condition compliance certificate. Exceptional condition criteria were included within the policy for any departures from the formal age policy for vehicles. No particular detail was given for electric and low emission vehicles as government advice was expected to come forwards on this issue.
• Appendix B – there was a suggested reduction from 75% to 60% for visibility of rear windows on vehicles.
• Appendix E – the national standards had introduced more onerous conditions for details when recording private hire bookings. Additional conditions had been included from the national standards for operators in relation to DBS checks, Booking and Dispatch staff and policies on employing ex-offenders.
• Appendix G – formal convictions policy, previously adopted but now included in the formal taxi policy.
• Appendix J  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15