Agenda item

Report ENV546 by the Service Manager, Community Safety and Licensing.            (Enclosure)

Decision:

1)           The Licensing Committee has considered the responses received during the consultation period and endorses the recommendations from the Licensing Officers in relation to the comments received as shown in appendix 1 to report ENV546.

2)           The Licensing Committee recommends to Cabinet the adoption of the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy with the revised time line.

Members had before them report ENV546 by the Service Manager Community Safety and Licensing.  The report concerned the recent consultation that had taken place on the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy and the responses received.  The Service Manager Community Safety and Licensing informed the Committee that there was no statutory duty on local authorities to produce a policy but district council’s were entitled to adopt a policy to guide and inform members, the trade and the general public on the standards it considers necessary in maintaining and improving standards of drivers and vehicles.  Consultation was undertaken between May 2011 and August 2011 with the following stakeholders:

-       Licence holders

-       Local trade organisations

-       Disability groups

-       Lincolnshire Police

-       Lincolnshire County Council

-       Local Authorities in Lincolnshire

-       General public

-       Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA)

-       Other authority services

The responses received were mainly from taxi operators and drivers.  The Service Manager Community Safety and Licensing then highlighted to Members the main points of amendments with the proposed new Licensing Policy.  One of the main points was the introduction of a penalty point system as outlined within the policy to help maintain a higher standard as there was recent evidence that operators were not adhering to what was expected of them.  He asked the Committee if they would be happy for this element of the policy to be brought forward to be implemented from the 1st January 2012. Members felt that the point system was a good addition to the policy and they agreed to that part of the policy being implemented from 1st January 2012.

The Service Manager Community Safety and Licensing then referred to the introduction of an age restriction on vehicles and outlined how this would work.  Dual plating of vehicles would not be allowed and the policy clarified that an age exemption regarding prestige vehicles would only apply to private hire vehicles.  The age of vehicles had been referred to in the responses received and the policy which the council proposed brought it in line with the County Council’s contract vehicles, although this would be kept under review.   The Licensing Officer then referred to the display of plates, which should be on the outside of vehicles at the rear.  Robust wording was to be included within the policy stating clearly stating that no plate was to be placed in the back window of vehicles.  Members sort clarity on various points raised with one Member raising an issue about double parking to which the Service Manager Community Safety and Licensing said he would pass on to the police liaison team.  All Members agreed that the proposed document be forwarded to Cabinet for approval. On being put to the vote it was proposed, seconded and unanimously agreed.