Agenda item

To consider a report by the Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) on issues relating to NVQ and VRQ professional qualifications for private hire and hackney carriage drivers

Please note that Appendix 1 of the report is exempt under the provisions of Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4(3)

(Report attached)

Further to minute 39 of the meeting held 16^th November 2011 when the Committee deferred determination of the report on the future of mandatory NVQ and VRQ qualifications for Hackney Carriage (HC) and Private Hire (PH) drivers, the Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) submitted a further report setting out responses to the concerns previously raised by Members.

The November Committee had considered the deadlines given for completion of the qualifications in the face of limited Government funding and having regard to the statistical analysis of the uptake and success of the scheme. Officers referred to the report and responded to the Committees’ key concern regarding the number and nature of complaints received since the implementation of the training in particular as follows:

Officers were keen to put the number and nature of complaints into context with the volume of work undertaken by the trades and noted that no link could be proved between the reduction in complaints and the uptake of training. It was suggested that this type of monitoring could be undertaken in the future.

The Committee noted the options to consider, including the consequences of retaining the NVQ VRQ requirement or removing that requirement; and whether to reconsider the options originally presented in 2008. Members discussed:

-  whether a review of the number of historical complaints was beneficial to future delivery of the service to the public

-  the benefits of continued monitoring of the number and nature of complaints to review the success of the qualifications and positive impact on the service to the public

-  whether the volume of trips had decreased during 2009/10 which could have an impact on the number of public complaints received

-  a request for monitoring by ethnicity statistics to be submitted as it was stated that some drivers from some cultures felt they were treated less favourably. The Committee considered whether these statistics would be beneficial to the decision and requested that a copy of the TPHL Section Equality Impact Assessment be submitted in the first instance to enable Members to take a collective opinion on whether ethnicity statistics were required

-  Members were concerned that funding would cease soon in the Leeds area but training may still be available from a Midlands based firm and felt this should be investigated. Members were unhappy at the prospect of part of the contingent of licence holders remaining untrained

-  Members welcomed the fact that both the HC and PH trades in recent years had worked collaboratively with the TPHL Section to improve all aspects of the service they provided to the public

-  The fact that no enforcement had taken place between September 2008 and September 2009 of the condition requiring new applicants to undertake the qualification.

(Councillor Selby joined the meeting at this point)

The Committee broadly welcomed the report but felt there was a great deal of information which required further consideration. The Chair suggested a small Working Group be established to consider the possibility of creating a programme of in-house training and testing provided by TPHL Section to drivers. Members considered the recommendations and the options available and

RESOLVED –

a)  That, having regard to the costs detailed in the outcome of the market testing exercise, the procurement of external training providers be discounted at the present time

b)  To note there is no facility for non-Council employees (i.e. members of the HC/PH trade) to obtain accredited vocational training programmes through the Councils’ own Corporate Training Programme

c)  That officers be requested to carry out further feasibility work on the design of a training and testing system that would mirror as far as possible the elements and benefits of the existing NVQ and VRQ qualifications

d)  That a small Working Group of Members and relevant officers be established to discuss the feasibility work and training/testing system outlined in c) above and report back

e)  That Members support the approach that there will be no enforcement of the original NVQ/VRQ requirements whilst the feasibility work and training/testing system is investigated

f)  That the Committee continues to encourage drivers to take advantage of the current qualifications whilst they are still free.

g)  To request a copy of the TPHL Section Equality Impact Assessment be sent to Members of the Committee.