Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no requests to address the meeting.

There were no items of urgent business.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meetings of the Committee held on 7 September 2016, 16 May 2017, 15 May 2018, 14 May 2019, 19 May 2021 and 18 May 2022.

The Minutes of the meetings held on 7 September 2016, 16 May 2017, 15 May 2018, 14 May 2019, 19 May 2021 and 18 May 2022 were agreed as correct records and signed by the Chairman.

To receive communications from the Chairman.

There were no Chairman’s Announcements.

Report of Assistant Director of Regulatory Services & Community Safety

Purpose of Report

The Council is currently consulting on proposals to amend the Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Policy (‘the policy’). This report provides a summary of the background to the proposed changes to the policy and the consultation process being followed. It also outlines the intended timetable for formal decision on any changes to the policy.

The Council’s Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Policy must be approved by Full Council. The Licensing Committee is constituted to “deal with all matters which are the responsibility of the Council in relation to hackney carriage and private hire vehicles licensed by the Council”. Therefore, it is appropriate that the Licensing Committee should consider any proposed changes to the policy and provide comment for consideration when preparing the final policy to be proposed to Full Council for adoption.

The Council has a statutory duty to ensure the proper administration of taxi licensing legislation in the district. Taxi services are an important part of the local economy and therefore fulfilling this statutory duty contributes to the Council’s priority to ensure the district has an enterprising economy with strong and vibrant local centres. The primary purpose of the licensing regime is to promote public safety and therefore the Council’s work to licence taxi drivers, vehicles and operators also supports the commitment to work with partners to reduce crime and antisocial behaviour. Further, the proposed revisions to the licensing policy include measures to reduce the carbon emissions of the taxi fleet in support of the council’s commitment to protect the environment and to help achieve net zero targets.

Recommendations

The Committee is recommended to:

1.1  Review the proposed changes to the Council’s Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Policy, and responses received to date during the public consultation on those proposed changes, and provide comment for consideration in the preparation of the final policy to be proposed to Full Council for adoption.

Resolved

(1)      That, with due consideration, the following comments are made for consideration in the preparation of the final policy to be passed to Full Council for adoption:

·      Endorse the changes proposed by officers and the further revisions intended as a result of consultation feedback as outlined in their introduction to the Committee.

·      Request officers consider how vintage vehicles used for private hire can be included in the policy.

·      For officers to look into how wheelchair accessibility vehicles will meet the ultra-low emissions policy to ensure the emissions policy does not reduce availability of wheelchair accessible vehicles.

·      Thanks to the officers for the hard work they have put into creating the draft policy.

The Assistant Director of Regulatory Services and Community Safety submitted a report which set out the proposed changes to the Council’s Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Policy. This was an opportunity for the Licensing Committee to consider the revised policy and provide comments for consideration in the preparation of the final policy that would be submitted to Full Council for adoption.

In introducing the report, the Assistant Director of Regulatory Services and Community Safety advised the Committee that the existing policy was last reviewed in 2015. The introduction of Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards by the Department for Transport, the introduction of a new National Register of Revocations and Refusals and the councils declaration of a climate emergency and introduction of a climate action framework provided the background to the requirement for this review and update of the council’s Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing Policy.

The Lead Licensing Enforcement Officer advised the Committee that the consultation period would close on 31 January 2023. To date no formal consultation representations had been received, however taxi and private vehicle licence holders had provided comments at the forums arranged for licensees to meet with the Licensing team.

In response to questions from the Committee regarding the possibility of a taxi driver obtaining their licence at a different authority and then coming to work in the Cherwell area, the Lead Licensing Enforcement Officer advised that someone could obtain a hackney carriage taxi licence at another authority and then could legally work in another local authority area as a private hire taxi working through a private hire operator.

On behalf of the Committee, the Chairman thanked the Licensing Team for their hard work on the revised draft Policy.

Resolved

(1)      That, having given due consideration, the following comments from the Licensing Committee be made for consideration in the preparation of the final Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Policy which would be submitted to Full Council for adoption:

·      Endorse the changes proposed by officers and the further revisions intended as a result of consultation feedback.

·      Request officers to consider how vintage vehicles used for private hire can be included in the policy.

·      Request officers to look into how wheelchair accessibility vehicles will meet the ultra-low emissions policy to ensure the emissions policy does not reduce availability of wheelchair accessible vehicles.

·      Thanks to the officers for the hard work they have put into creating the draft policy.