Agenda item

For the Committee to approve the draft Taxi Licensing Policy within Appendix 1 for public consultation from 15 January to 15 March 2024.  

The Committee received a report on Taxi Licensing Policy review. The Service Manager for Environmental and Regulation, and the Licensing Manager presented the report to the Committee and provided an overview of the main features. These were as follows:

·       The review of the taxi licensing policy was comprehensive and had been conducted over the course of several years.

·       The review introduces new, statutory guidance as well as administrative changes to the licensing policy.

·       Although taxi licensing legislation dates from 1847 and 1976, this review incorporates the revised statutory guidance together with an overall modernisation of the policy.

·       The policy relates to driver, vehicles and operators.

·       A fundamental amendment in the draft policy includes an age limit on taxi and private hire vehicles to improve emissions, safety and overall aesthetic and provision for passengers.

·       A further proposal will require all NFDC licensed private hire vehicles to display door stickers on passenger doors. This proposal would enable passengers and officers to identify our pre-booked private hire vehicles more easily.  

·       Furthermore, a change to the mid-term inspection requirements is proposed which reduces the required age that vehicles require such inspections. This will improve the quality and efficiency of the fleet.

·       Enhanced DBS checks will be increased to more frequent periodical checks to ensure that the service is aware of any and all recent convictions held by licensed drivers.

·       The draft policy consultation will go out for 3 months and will be open to all members of the public including agencies and operators, vehicle proprietors, drivers, passengers and other organisations. Responses from the consultation will be collatedby the service and be considered bymembers before determination and adoption in the final policy.

·       The policy will be revisited again in 4 years’ time, howevergiven the modernisation of the policy, updates, to reflect further changes to statutory guidance for example, will be easier to update thanpreviously.  

·       Access to the National Anti-Fraud Network (NAFN) NR3S database is already in use and details of drivers that have been refused a licence or had a driver licence revoked or suspended are held on the National Register of Refusals and Revocations.

·       The Chairman of the Committee reminded members that the proposed draft policy in front of them was to go out to consultation and therefore any suggestions or comments that any member has, or any other interested party for that matter, should be submitted via the consultation.

After the presentation, members of the Committee asked questions and made comments. These were as follows:

·       One member of the Committee asked about space for passengers in taxis. It was explained that the Council’s own garage mechanics had contributed to the draft policy but comments on such matters would be welcomed as feedback in the consultation.

·       One member requested that the ability for door locks to be released when vehicles were stationary was added to the policy for safeguarding reasons. Officers were receptive to this suggestion and referenced the Code of Conduct that all drivers must adhere to.

·       It was repeated that the consultation would be made public via the Council’s website and that all licence holders, particularly operators, would be contacted directly with the details of the consultation.

RESOLVED

That the draft Taxi Licensing Policy within Appendix 1 be approved for public consultation from 15 January to 15 March 2024.