Decision details

The Director of Communities, Housing and Environment submitted a report which sought the Board’s approval to undertake a consultation exercise upon proposed new criterion for minor motoring convictions for determining the suitability of applicants and licensees as drivers in taxi and private hire licensing.

In introducing the report and in outlining the proposed process moving forward, the Executive Member highlighted the following corrections proposed to be made to the submitted report:

·  That the outcomes of the consultation would be considered by Licensing Committee followed by Executive Board, and not the other way around as detailed within the report; and

·  That the consultation period be scheduled for 6 weeks duration, rather than the 4 weeks, as detailed within the report.

In considering the report, Members discussed several matters including the importance of continuing to ensure that appropriate safeguarding measures remained in place, the timing of the proposed consultation process, the impact suffered by the taxi trade during the pandemic, the actions being taken to simplify the consultation process for stakeholders and make it as accessible as possible, the actions being taken to provide wider support for drivers as part of the recovery from the pandemic, and addressing the issue of wider harmonisation across neighbouring Authorities.

With regard to the wider harmonisation of the taxi and private hire trade across neighbouring Authorities, it was noted that work continued in this area, with the aim that further detail would be presented to the Board at the appropriate time.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of the submitted report, subject to the inclusion of the corrections detailed above, be noted;

(b)  That a consultation exercise on the new criterion in the Suitability Policy, as presented within the submitted report/appendices, but subject to the inclusion of the corrections detailed above, be approved; 

(c)  That a further report be submitted to the Board outlining the findings of the consultation and making final proposals on the policy to be adopted.