Decision details

Licensing Committee’s approval to the proposed Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy (Taxi Policy) was sought. 

Members considered: 

·             The main changes recommended by the Department for Transport (DfT) 2020 guidance and the reason for adopting it as standard in 2021.

·             DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check for drivers every 6 months via an electronic on-line checking system. 

·             The benefit and cost of signing up to the NR3 register (from the National Fraud Office).

·             Additional signage within a licensed vehicle on how to make a complaint.

·             The licence for a Private Hire Operator (PHO) to include a register of staff all of whom must have a basic DBS check and to be updated regularly.

·             Updated guidance on applying for certificates of good conduct for drivers from outside of the UK with a priority for public safety.

·             Correct storage of data held by a private hire operator in accordance with data protection legislation.

·             Cost implications of any additional workload caused over the next 3 years by the extra checks on drivers, currently unknown but hoped to be absorbed by an efficiency gain.

·             An implementation plan to bring in all the changes requested by the DfT for January 2021 will be reviewed at the next committee meeting.

·             Disability safeguarding training through the Blue Lamp Trust as additional driver tests.

·             The implications of making the use of CCTV in vehicles mandatory and considering the use of body worn videos for additional personal security. 

·             The extension of vehicle age limits to help drivers who may be struggling financially and for a redraft of the consultation document to incorporate a change to the wording to extend vehicle age limits by 1 year (March 2021 to March 2022).

·             High-viz (reflective) jackets/sashes included in the equipment that vehicles are required to carry to be re-inserted into the draft policy.

·             The consultation draft policy would go out for a period of 12 weeks from Monday 16 November 2020 to the start of February 2021.  The revised paper would come back to the Committee for approval, taking into consideration the Committee’s comments.

·             An additional meeting date in March 2021 would be set for this purpose.

DECISION

That the updated policy go out for consultation with the trade and interested parties.