Agenda item

Report from the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment.

Recommendations:

That Cabinet:-

1.    Adopt the draft Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy 2023 attached as Appendix 1.

2.    Agree to the implementation of the policy requirements according to the implementation scheme detailed at Appendix 3.

3.    Agree to a further review in relation to vehicle signage and driver identification, as described in section 2.5 of this report.

Consideration was given to the report which provided the findings of the consultation exercise in relation to the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy. It also proposes approval and adoption of the final Policy document along with a proposal to carry out a further review of vehicle signage and driver identification.

Cabinet had given approval to commence a period of consultation in relation to a number of proposed amendments to the Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy in June 2023. There were 624 responses which were included in Appendix 2 to the report. Following the consultation, a number of changes had been included in the final Policy in relation to:

·       Enhanced requirements for Private Hire Operators

·       Removal of the limit on Hackney Carriage licences

·       Amendment to the vehicle age and emissions policy

·       Vehicle signage

·       Review of the Conviction Policy

·       Requirement for a DBS check as part of a vehicle licence application

·       Clarification regarding application requirements

The proposed amendments to the Policy were highlighted in yellow in Appendix 1.

During the consultation it became apparent that compliance with the revised requirements could present operators with practical and technological challenges. It was, therefore, proposed that the requirements be introduced in accordance with the implementation scheme that was attached to the report as Appendix 3. During the meeting, it was proposed that Appendix 3 be amended to include the following:

·       Confirmation that the amendment of the limit on Hackney Carriages will only come into effect once the Forge Island development is operational.

This was agreed.

Resolved:

That Cabinet:-

1.    Adopt the draft Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy 2023 attached as Appendix 1.

2.    Agree to the implementation of the Policy requirements according to the implementation scheme detailed at Appendix 3, which was amended at the meeting to include the following:

·       Confirmation that the amendment of the limit on Hackney Carriages will only come into effect once the Forge Island development is operational.

3.    Agree to a further review in relation to vehicle signage and driver identification, as described in section 2.5 of this report.