Agenda item

Report of the Corporate Director of Services and Neighbourhoods

Members were presented with the results of consultation feedback on the draft revised conditions for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing and were asked to agree a final version of the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing conditions for adoption by the Licensing and Enforcement Committee.

The Food Safety and Licensing Service Manager reminded Members that they had resolved to submit the revised draft conditions for a period of 8 weeks consultation at their meeting on 19 March 2013.  As a result of this, two responses had been received from Mr Bartholomew, a Private Hire Driver, and Mr Zeya Ahmed from the Hackney Carriage Association, which were appended to the report.

Mr Bartholomew raised two issues for Members to consider; asking for door panels on private hire vehicles to be optional rather than mandatory, and requesting vehicles to operate for longer than 10 years, provided they had reasonable mileage and were in good condition. 

Mr Ahmed had raised a number of points which the Food Safety and Licensing Service Manager had discussed with him.  A number of his suggestions had been agreed in principle which Members were asked to approve.  These were reflected at 3.12 within paragraphs 1-19 of the report.  Matters needing further consideration by Members were listed at 3.13 within paragraphs 1-5 of the report.  Additionally, during the consultation period, four additional motoring offences had been identified which needed to be added to the regulatory guidelines.  These were set out at 3.14 of the report.

The Food Safety and Licensing Service Manager summarised the Officer recommendations to the Committee which were:-

(1)       To note the revised Policy for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing          and consultation feedback and to adopt it with immediate effect.

(2)       To note and approve for inclusion in the final version the amendments     detailed in paragraphs 3.10(1), 3.12 (1-19), 3.13 (1-5) and 3.14.

The Chair reminded Members of the points made during Mr Ahmed’s deputation and advised them to consider each item separately due to the complexity of the documents.

Item 3.10 (1) – Door Panels

It was agreed that these would continue to be mandatory

Item 3.10 (2) – Request to allow vehicles to run for more than 10 years

This was discussed under Item 3.13 (2)

Item 3.12 (1) – (19)

These amendments were agreed.

Item 3.13 (1) – Applicants’ driving history

It was agreed that this paragraph would be amended to reflect that the applicant should not have incurred any further points in the previous 12 months, as clarified by Mr Ahmed.

Item 3.13 (2) – Vehicles over 10 years of age

Members debated the following points:-

·         There were reservations that officers should be given greater discretion in this matter.

·         It was recognised that vehicles over 10 years of age could have considerable mileage and might be at the end of their life apart from exceptional cases such as classic cars and luxury models.

·         The appearance of vehicles was important for the image of the City and an older fleet might compromise this.

It was agreed that these matters would continue to be referred to the Licensing and Enforcement Committee for consideration.

Item 3.13 (3) - Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles

The Food Safety and Licensing Manager addressed points of clarification for Members. 

It was agreed that all new additional vehicles should continue to be wheelchair accessible.

Item 3.13 (4) – in House Booking Systems

The Committee was sympathetic with the Trade’s views that the system was open to abuse and acknowledged the need for more monitoring, but believed that the system should be retained.  It was not considered  that the Hackney Carriage Trade could cope at peak times when there was a need to disperse customers quickly.  It was also noted that some businesses had a condition on their licence which necessitated an in-house booking system.  Members took into account proposals to pedestrianize Eastgate Street in their deliberations.

It was agreed that In-House Booking Systems should be allowed to continue.

Item 3.13 (5) – Names on Badges

Members recognised the Trade’s concerns regarding endangerment of their personal safety by having their names printed on the front of badges.  There was a suggestion that the name might be printed on the reverse of the badge.

It was agreed that officers would consult with the Trade on this issue and that a report would be brought back to the next meeting of the Licensing and Enforcement Committee.

Appendix F – Paragraph 12, 1.4 and 1.9 relating to agents

Mr Ahmed’s suggestion that this should be amended to say ‘the current list would be provided on request’ was agreed.

Item 3.14 – Additional motoring offences to be included

These were agreed.

The Food Safety and Licensing Service Manager addressed a point of clarification regarding tests undertaken by drivers to ensure they were conversant with the area.  Members discussed what actions could be taken when it appeared that a driver was deliberately taking them the long way around.  The Chair addressed Mr Ahmed directly on this point and Mr Ahmed advised that the customer should obtain a receipt, the driver’s number and should lodge a formal complaint.  The Chair asked the Food Safety and Licensing Service Manager to issue a press release to this effect.

RESOLVED

1.         That the proposed amendments as set out in these minutes be noted         and approved for inclusion in the final version and that a hard copy of   this document be circulated to all Members of the Committee.

2.         That the revised Policy for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire          Licensing and consultation feedback be noted by Members and        adopted by the Licensing and Enforcement Committee with             immediate effect.