Issue - meetings

Report of the Cabinet Member Development and Safety

RESOLVED THAT

1.    the proposed vehicle specification at appendix 4 be adopted ;

2.    the proposed mitigation arrangements as set out in paragraph 5 be approved;

3.    the other changes outlined in paragraph 6 be approved; and

4.    authority be delegated to the Licensing Team Leader to make the necessary changes to the adopted licensing policy and procedures, subject to the outcome of this report and its recommendations.

The Cabinet Member Development and Safety introduced the report which set out the outcome of the consultation on the revised licensing policy for taxi and private hire licensing in Cheltenham. He highlighted that in addition to the formal consultation, a number of mitigation arrangements were proposed for Cabinet approval as outlined in paragraph 5 of the report. This included accepting the trade representatives request that the council consider waiving new licences fees for proprietors who would be required to change the vehicles. It also included exemptions to be put in place to allow saloon hackney carriage vehicles to re-license as private hire vehicles. This would include the ability for silver hackney carriage saloon vehicles older than 5 years to be licensed as private hire vehicles and would only apply to a single vehicle and not to subsequent vehicles.

The Cabinet Member reported the minor changes to the adopted policy document as outlined in paragraph 6 i.e. updating the policy document to refer to the adoption of the use of the national Register of Taxi Licence Revocations and Refusals and the implementation of the changes to the local knowledge training day.

The Cabinet Member then went on to highlight the paragraphs in the Government action plan of August 2017 with regard to taxi and private hire drivers adjustments for disabled access. There was a less than consistent approach nationwide but this proposed policy was clear with no loopholes. The Cabinet Member also made reference to Appendix 4 and the specification of WAV.

In response to a question with regard to the national register the Cabinet Member confirmed that this was freely available to all licensing authorities and was to be welcomed.

The Leader believed the policy was a sensible way forward and wished to put on record his thanks to the Cabinet Member and all officers involved.

RESOLVED THAT

1.    the proposed vehicle specification at appendix 4 be adopted ;

2.    the proposed mitigation arrangements as set out in paragraph 5 be approved;

3.    the other changes outlined in paragraph 6 be approved; and

4.    authority be delegated to the Licensing Team Leader to make the necessary changes to the adopted licensing policy and procedures, subject to the outcome of this report and its recommendations.