Agenda and minutes

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Items
No. Item

13.

MEMBERS' CODE OF CONDUCT - DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members of the Committee are asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests, in connection with any item on the agenda and state the nature of the interest.

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Minutes:

Members of the Committee were asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests, in connection with any item on the agenda and state the nature of the interest.

 

No such declarations were made.

14.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 67 KB

To approve the accuracy of the minutes of the meeting held on 19 January 2021.

 

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Minutes:

Resolved – That the accuracy of the minutes of the meeting of the Regulatory and General Purposes Committee held on 19 January 2021 be approved.

15.

MINUTES OF THE REGULATORY PANEL pdf icon PDF 60 KB

To approve the accuracy of the minutes of the meetings of the Regulatory Panel held on 11 November, 26 November, 16 December 2020 and 29 January 2021.

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Minutes:

Resolved – That the accuracy of the minutes of the meetings of the Regulatory Panel held on 11 November, 26 November and 16 December 2020 and 29 January 2021 be approved.

 

16.

DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT - STATUTORY TAXI AND PRIVATE HIRE VEHICLE STANDARDS pdf icon PDF 126 KB

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Minutes:

The Director of Law and Governance submitted a report advising Members of the Committee of the publication of the Department for Transport Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards document which was attached as an appendix to the report and sought Members’ approval of proposed actions in response to its recommendations.

 

The Licensing Manager reported that the standards within the document had been developed to address the safeguarding of the public, in particular children and vulnerable adults.  It was emphasised within the document that the importance of considering these standards cannot be overstated.  The recommendations set out in the document were the result of detailed discussion with the trade, regulators and safety campaign groups.

 

Members were informed that it is a requirement that all licensing authorities should publish their consideration of the measures contained in the Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards, and the policies and delivery plans that stem from these.  The Department for Transport (DfT) had undertaken to monitor the effectiveness of the Standards in achieving the protection of children and vulnerable adults (and by extension all passengers).

 

The Licensing Manager advised Members that she had reviewed the Licensing Authority’s current conditions and criteria for licensing Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers and Vehicles as well as Private Hire Operators against the DfT’s Standards and the result of this review was set out in Table A attached in Appendix 2 to the report.  Alongside each of the DfT’s recommendations a summary was provided of the Licensing Authority’s current position and any proposed action in response to the DfT’s recommendation.  Members were further informed that where possible an estimated timescale to complete the proposed action had been given.

 

A number of recommendations contained within the document which were not currently in place and therefore required to be addressed were outlined within the report.  The purpose of the Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards was to offer greater consistency across the country particularly on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.  It was reported that whilst some of the proposed actions would take time to deliver, as set out within Table A in Appendix 2 of the report, due to the need to consult with interested parties, there were others which could be implemented without the need for consultation, subject to the approval of Members of this Committee.

 

The Licensing Manager advised that should Members approve the revised Convictions Policy as set out in Appendix 3 of the report, the revised Convictions Policy would replace the current policy with immediate effect.  Members of the Committee were also being asked to approve the following amendments to the current licensing criteria and conditions where they do not match the DfT’s Standards, namely:

 

·  The time period for notification of any investigation into offences by licence-holders to be amended to 48 hours;

·  Oral and written English Language proficiency tests to be a requirement for applicants for Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Driver Licences;

·  Authorisation be given to the Licensing Manager to refer  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

17.

REVIEW OF PRIVATE HIRE OPERATOR LICENCE CONDITIONS pdf icon PDF 103 KB

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Minutes:

The Director of Law and Governance submitted a report for Members of the Committee to consider revised Private Hire Operator Licence Conditions.

 

The Licensing Manager reported that a review of the current Private Hire Operator Licence Conditions had been undertaken to provide effective protection for members of the public.  The review had had regard to the Department for Transport’s Statutory Taxis and Private Hire Vehicle Standards.  The review had also taken into account changes in technology since the development of the current conditions.

 

Members were advised that the amendments that had been made particularly related to booking records, the recording of complaints and requirements relating to staff employed by the Operator.

 

The Licensing Manager informed Members that the draft document had been subject to consultation with licensed Private Hire Operators and that a summary of feedback from this consultation was attached in Table A in Appendix 2 of the report.  Members were further informed that the proposed conditions had also been shared with other Licensing Authorities in the City Region to seek to achieve consistency across the City Region.

 

On a motion by Councillor L Rowlands and seconded by Councillor G Davies it was –

 

Resolved – That the revised Private Hire Operator Licence Conditions attached as Appendix 1 to the report be approved.