Agenda and draft minutes

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Business Regulation Manager, concerning the Council’s revised policy in relation to Hackney Carriage and Private Hire licensing, which had been introduced in July 2015. The report also referred to the Licensing Policy Implementation Scheme and to the following specific issues:-

: a review of the implementation and application of the Policy, since its introduction in July 2015;

: Enforcement actions undertaken by the Licensing Service during the period January to August 2016;

: audit of licensed Hackney Carriage/Private Hire drivers;

: the Disclosure and Barring Service online update service;

: Child and Adult Safeguarding Awareness training;

: the installation of closed circuit television (cctv) systems in licensed hackney carriages and private hire vehicles;

: the BTEC requirements for licensed Hackney Carriage/Private Hire drivers;

: appeals (against the refusal of licence applications and against the suspension and revocation of licences) heard in the Magistrates’ Court and those scheduled to be heard in the Crown Court;

: details of the restricting of the staffing establishment of the Licensing Service.

Discussion took place on the following matters:-

- the national database of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire drivers, whose licences have been revoked;

- the possible implications of the Policing and Crime Bill, 2015/16 to 2016/17 for hackney carriage and private hire licensing;

- suggested improvements to the training requirements for licensed Hackney Carriage and Private Hire drivers;

- installation certificates for the closed circuit television (cctv) systems in licensed vehicles;

- the requirement for operators to use only drivers who are licensed by this Council;

- the requirements of the Council’s Corporate Transport Policy in relation to contracts for the home-to-school transport of school pupils;

- the imminent closure of the Rotherham Magistrates’ Court, with cases being heard at the Sheffield Magistrates’ Court in the future.

Resolved:- (1) That the report be received and its contents noted.

(2) That the update in relation to the implementation of the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy, as now submitted, be received.

(3) That a further update on the implementation of the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy be submitted to a future meeting of Commissioner M. Ney and the Members of the Advisory Licensing Board.