Agenda and minutes

To consider any appeals in accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules (in the event of an Appeal the press and public will be excluded)

(*In accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2, written notice of an appeal must be received by the Head of Governance Services at least 24 hours before the meeting)

There were no appeals against the refusal of inspection of documents.

The agenda contained no exempt information.

No late items of business were added to the agenda.

To disclose or draw attention to any interests in accordance with Leeds City Council’s ‘Councillor Code of Conduct’.

No declarations of interest were made.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Hutchison

To approve the minutes of the last meeting held on 9^th August 2022.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held 9^th August 2022 be agreed as a correct record.

Minute 17 Leeds Festival 2022. The Chair expressed the Committee’s condolences to the family and friends of David Celino who had died following an incident at this year’s Festival.

In response to a Member query regarding evaluation work, the Chair reported that he and the Executive Member had met with Partner Agencies on 5^th September 2022 to discuss this year’s event and that evidence was still being gathered. The Safety Advisory Group is in the process of collating agency feedback to be followed by a multi-agency debrief meeting. Following this the Committee will receive a report setting out how work is being progressed.

To consider the report of the Chief Officer, Elections and Regulatory which sets out an overview of the council’s vehicle policies and conditions, and the terms of reference for a review of the policies and conditions.

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Officer, Elections and Regulatory which set out an overview of the council’s vehicle policies and conditions which apply to taxi and private hire vehicles, and the terms of reference for a proposed review of the policies and conditions.

The report referred to the Licensing Committee meeting held in December 2021, which had prioritised the order for policies and conditions to be reviewed, in line with the chapters of the council’s Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Policy, with the Vehicle policy review, including CCTV in vehicles, being the first.

The report set out the engagement and consultation process proposed, including the establishment of four vehicle conditions working groups to consider each of the four policy themes:

• Hackney carriage vehicles;
• Private hire vehicles;
• Non-standard vehicles (such as larger vehicles, executive private hire vehicles, novelty vehicles); and
• Equipment and adaptations to vehicles (CCTV, advertising, screens).

The Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Manager presented the report and highlighted the key issues for members to consider:

·  The Council currently operated in excess of 20 policies and conditions which would be reviewed in the coming years, the six areas of review correspond to the chapters of the Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Policy which would be updated in response to the review.

·  The review of the conditions and policies would be timely in view of the current cost of living crisis, to ensure the conditions are appropriate, not too stringent and are up to date.

·  The terms of reference for the review provided an indicative programme of work, including consultation and engagement, working groups, and open days/site visits.

·  In respect of Review No.1 Vehicle policy review, including CCTV in vehicles, noting the multiple conditions and guidance documents in place for different types of vehicles, it was suggested that Review No.1 be scheduled to take place in 4 distinct stages and Members were provided with an overview of the types of issues to be considered in each stage:

o  Hackney Carriage Vehicles

o  Private Hire Vehicles

o  Non?standard Vehicles

o  Equipment and adaptations in Vehicles.

During discussions the following matters were considered:

The format of open days and site visits – intended to view new types of vehicle available for licensing, the vehicle licensing approval process and possible trade fair visits or to other Local Authority vehicle licensing sections.

The breadth of engagement – to include taxi and private hire users/passenger groups, taxi and private hire representatives, stakeholders including the Passenger Transport Access Committee, school Governors, Union representatives, the aim being to have a wide pool of voices.

Working Group membership - once the working groups were established, further consideration would be given to the role of attendees (permanent member status or by invitation to provide evidence to the working group). In response to a Member’s concern over the practicalities of ensuring all groups within the taxi and private hire trade were heard, Members received assurance that the size of the working group and structure of meetings would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.

To note the date and time of the next meeting as Tuesday 29^th November 2022 at 10.00 am.

RESOLVED – To note the date and time of the next meeting as Tuesday 29^th November 2022 at 10.00 am.