Issue - meetings

Report of Cabinet Member for Safety and Communities, Councillor Victoria Atherstone

RESOLVED THAT:

1.    following consultation, the draft policy attached at Appendix 2 from 24 July 2025, is adopted (after call-in period);

2.    the feedback regarding the vehicle emissions policy and that further review is required, as set out in 3.5 of the report, is noted.

The Cabinet Member for Safety and Communities introduced her report, which proposes essential changes to CBC’s taxi and private hire licensing policy following consultation with a wide range of stakeholders, as set out in the report. She read out the many proposed changes, which will bring the policy in line with best practice, adding that further consultation is needed for the vehicle emissions policy, to ensure that this can deliver on the council’s carbon neutral aspirations.

She offered huge thanks to the officers, in particular to Michelle Bignell, the Licensing and Public Protection Manager, for these very thorough policy updates, and to the licensing trade who serve our communities daily.

The Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency welcomed the further consultation on vehicle emissions.

The Cabinet Member for Waste and Recycling, Parks and Gardens and Open Green Space, also welcomed the excellent set of proposals which bring the policy up to date, but queried the suggestion that drivers can take the knowledge test six times before having the wait six months to take it again. The Licensing and Public Protection Manager confirmed that they can only do it three times before having to wait six months to re-sit, and that this is for private hire drivers only, not hackney carriage drivers on the taxi ranks – they have to do a topographical question test to ensure they understand the area properly.

RESOLVED THAT:

1.    following consultation, the draft policy attached at Appendix 2 from 24 July 2025, is adopted (after call-in period);

2.    the feedback regarding the vehicle emissions policy and that further review is required, as set out in 3.5 of the report, is noted.