Issue - meetings

Report of the Cabinet Member for Corporate Governance and Licensing.

Purpose of report

To present information for consideration following feedback on the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy that took effect from 1 April 2021 and seek approval to amend the pass mark for the English language skills test.

Decision

That Cabinet:

1.    Approves the amendment of the pass mark for the English language skills test as detailed in the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy, to a Versant test score of 47 out of 80, for a period of six months with immediate effect.

2.    Delegates to the Director for Commercial and Operations, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Corporate Governance and Licensing, to undertake a review at the six month period and either:

-       Maintain the score of 47 out of 80; or

-       Revert to the original score of 58 out of 80.

3.    Approves the minor amendment to the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy to clarify the intent of the Policy in respect of the Certificate of Good Conduct.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet could have considered that the English language skills test score required revision and conclude that some other score may be more appropriate, or continue with the existing Policy without any of the outlined amendments.

Reason for decision

As part of the review of the Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy the Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee recommended that an English language skills test should be implemented for new driver applicants as recommended in the Department for Transport Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Standards issued in July 2020.

Following approval of the Policy by Cabinet on 12 January 2021, where an applicant was unable to demonstrate that they held a relevant qualification taught and examined in English, they must pass an English language skills test. To ensure an unbiased and consistent approach, the tests were purchased from Versant, which was based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, which was an international standard for describing language ability, from A1 (basic) to C2 (proficient).

The current Policy set the pass mark in South Kesteven at a Versant Score of 58 out of 80. The Licensing Committee considered the pass mark at its meeting on 12 November 2021 and recommended that the pass mark be reduced to 54 out of 80, which was equivalent to the entry level for a B1 Independent User. Further consideration was undertaken by the Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee where it recommended that the pass mark be reduced further to 47 out of 80 which was still an equivalent to the entry level for a B1 Independent User, and that this be reviewed in six months.

A B1 Independent User would be able to understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school and leisure and could deal with most situations likely to arrive whilst travelling in areas where the language was spoken.