Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillor Pam Bosworth, Councillor Paul Fellows, Councillor Philip Knowles and Councillor Nikki Manterfield.

The minutes of the meeting held on 10 May 2024 were proposed, seconded and AGREED.

To provide an update following feedback relating to the implementation of the new Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy.

Decision

The Licensing Committee requested that the Policy be reviewed after three months from 1 August 2024 with the focus of the review looking at the daily walk around check, the English language test and explore the charges applied by other local authorities.

The Committee had received a request from Mr Kevin Addlesee to speak to the Committee in relation to the new Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy that came into effect from 1 June 2024. Two further requests to speak were also received from Mr Dean loizou and Mr Orner. As there was no public speaking at Licensing Committee meetings, the Vice-Chairman as Chairman of the Committee used his discretion to allow public speaking to take place. 

Mr Addlesee stated that the taxi trade was struggling and that the increase in costs was having a detrimental effect on the trade and getting new drivers into the trade.   He was thankful for the change that had been made in respect of the age of vehicles but the main concern were the extra costs that were entailed to undertake all the new tests which included a driving proficiency test together with an English language test.  With all the new tests that had to be undertaken together with the application fee it came to £738.00 from the 1 August 2023.  He stated that the application costs in South Kesteven were more than elsewhere in Lincolnshire and felt that there was no parity and that the taxi companies could not compete due to the high costs. 

Another taxi operator, Mr Dean loizou stated that it was very hard for the companies to remain competitive with the costs.  He couldn’t see how drivers, who had been driving for a number of years needed to undertake a proficiency test and how that could benefit the trade.  He could understand the test for new drivers but not ones that had been driving for a number of years. He also made reference to the English test and Knowledge test for drivers that had been driving for a number of years.  He could understand the test for new drivers but not those who had been driving for a number of years. He also mentioned that the tests were outsourced and did not bring money back into the towns economy.

The Chairman thanked them for attending and for their comments.

The Licensing Manger then presented the report which provided an update following feedback relating to the implementation of the new Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy which had been adopted by Council on 23 May 2024.  The new policy would be effective from 1 June 2024 for all new applicants, but for existing driver’s changes would be effective from their renewal date after 1 August 2024.

There were six main points that had been raised following the implementation of the policy:

1)    The overall cost of both the new requirements and renewals, leading to some licensing elsewhere/competitive disadvantage.

2)    Agreement that the new tests  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

A Committee Member raised concern in respect of the Forbidden Forest event that took place yearly at Belvoir Castle.  There were a lot of “bogus” taxis at the event and he felt that something needed to be done to make people more aware.  The Licensing Manager stated that she would be willing to attend any meetings in respect of the event for next year.

The meeting closed at 11:12am.