The Corporate Director for Business Management sought Members’ approval in respect of revised Private Hire Driver and Private Hire Vehicle Licence Criteria and Conditions in respect of drivers and vehicles undertaking work exclusively under and in strict accordance with the terms and conditions of a contract issued by the Corporate Director for Strategy and Partnerships to transport children to and from educational establishments.

The Licensing Manager reported that separate Private Hire Drivers and Private Hire Vehicle Licence conditions and Criteria in respect of drivers and vehicles undertaking the work outlined above had been approved in January 2008, however these conditions had not been subject to review since that date.  Therefore, further to a review of these conditions, it had been identified by officers from the Licensing Department and the Strategy and Partnerships that there was no longer a requirement to have such different conditions for drivers and vehicles undertaking work exclusively under a contract to transport children to and from educational establishments.  It had however been recognised and acknowledged that there does remain justification for retaining a difference in the requirements necessary to become a Private Hire Driver undertaking work exclusively under the terms and conditions of a contract issued by the Corporate Director for Strategy and Partnerships.  It was proposed that an applicant seeking to undertake this work be exempt from the Knowledge Test but that they obtain the MIDAS qualification in place of the VRQ in introduction to the role of the professional taxi and private hire driver.  It was also proposed that Private Hire Vehicles undertaking this work be required to produce an MOT Certificate and Compliance Test Certificate for tests undertaken within 28 days prior to a licence being issued.  It was further proposed that once a vehicle reaches 6 years of age it would be required to be tested every six months and a six month licence be issued.  It was not currently proposed to impose the 10 years age limit that was currently applied to other Private Hire Vehicles but that this would be kept under review.

The draft conditions were attached to the report and the Licensing Manager advised that should they be approved, it be delegated to officers to make any subsequent minor amendments in the standard Private Hire licence conditions.

Members expressed concerns in respect of the 10 year age limit for vehicles not being applied and proposed that this be implemented for new applicants and applications for change of vehicles.

On a motion by Councillor P Stuart and seconded by Councillor A Hodson it was –

Resolved (7:1) –

(1)  That the revised Licence Conditions for Private Hire Driver and Private Hire Vehicles which are used to undertake work exclusively under and in strict accordance with the terms and conditions of a contract issued by the Corporate Director for Strategy and Partnerships to transport children to and from educational establishments be approved.

(2)  That officers be delegated to make any subsequent minor amendments to the standard Private Hire licence conditions.

(3)  That the revised Criteria as set out in paragraphs 3.3 and 3.4 of the report for applicants and vehicles seeking to be licensed as Private Hire Drivers and Vehicles respectively, to undertake work exclusively under a contract to transport children to and from educational establishments be approved.

(4)  That the 10 year age limit that currently applies to other Private Hire Vehicles be imposed in respect of any new applications and applications for change of vehicles.