To receive and consider the Statutory and Private Hire Report.

Julia O’Brien, Principal Officer Compliance and Enforcement presented the Statutory Taxi and Private Hire report. 

Julia O’Brien stated that this guidance was an attempt by the government to standardise vehicle, driver and operator’s standards.  She explained that although this was ‘guidance’, local authorities must have regard to it. 

Julia O’Brien stated it was proposed that the Licensing Committee look at further reports detailing changes to conditions contained in the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy and School and Community Services Policy to comply with statutory standards.  She pointed out that the current policies already incorporated a lot of the conditions that local authorities were being commended to adhere to. 

During the discussion of the item the following comments were made:

·           Councillor Burgess was interested to know if there were any areas which needed improvement and suggested that future reports could include Red Amber Green (RAG) rating.  She also asked if there would be cost implications to drivers as a result of this review;

·           Julia O’Brien stated that there may be a cost in relation to Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, as drivers would be asked to sign up to the DBS update service.  However, this may work out cheaper than having to do a DBS check every year;

·           Councillor Kerr agreed that it would be useful to be informed of any potential gaps or areas for improvement.  She asked for further clarification as to whether this government paper was statutory or guidance;

·           Julia O’Brien stated that although this was guidance, local authorities were being told that they should comply with it;

·           Councillor Kerr asked about the timescales in implementing the changes.  Julia O’Brien stated that a wide consultation would have to be carried out, and she hoped to be able to present a report to the March meeting of the Committee;

·           In response to a question Sean Murphy, Public Protection Partnership Manager stated that these policies would be approved by this Committee (not by Executive or Council);

·           In response to a question Julia O’Brien stated that following all the processes, including the consultation, the final policies were likely to be ready by the summer of 2021;

·           Councillor Fishwick asked how the service would obtain certificates of good character.  Julia O’Brien stated that this was already in the current policy, the service asked for drivers to approach the embassy of the place where they had been away from the country for three months, and they were able provided this certificate to the service;

·           Councillor Soane asked for more information about the regulations around stretched limousines.  Julia O’Brien stated that stretched limousines were already in the policy and they were treated in the same way as private hire.

Upon being put to the vote, Members agreed to the recommendations contained in the report.

RESOLVED That:

1)     Members note the content of the statutory standards; and

2)     Members agree to further reports detailing changes to conditions contained in the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy and School and Community Services Policy to comply with the statutory standards.