Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Sandra Barr, Nazmin Chowdhury and Mrs Joan Lloyd.

Councillor Chris Howells declared a personal interest in Item 3 – Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy, as he was a Taxi Driver licensed by Transport for London.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on 30 October 2023.

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on 30 October 2023 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To consider a proposed updated Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy.

The Environmental Health Commercial & Licensing Manager presented a report seeking approval to a revised Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy.

The Environmental Health Commercial & Licensing Manager advised that the Policy was last reviewed in 2014.  The Policy outlined how the Service would administer this statutory duty from receiving applications to enforcing the Policy and conditions contained within it.

The Environmental Health Commercial & Licensing Manager stated that there were fundamental changes from the policies agreed in 2014.  Structurally, the Policy outlined arrangements for all strands of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire licensing (drivers, operators and vehicles) in one document.  Previously there were three separate policies.

With regard to content, the Environmental Health Commercial & Licensing Manager explained that the Policy attempted to accommodate all aspects of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire licensing, which expanded the document in comparison to its predecessors.  More information was provided about how the Service operated.  The Policy aimed to ensure that the Service:

·       Met the Statutory Guidance;

·       Met Best Practice;

·       Was updated in accordance with the introduction of new legislation; and

·       Was transparent in its approach to licence holders.

The main changes/updates to the Policy related to:

·       Mandatory training for licence holders in safeguarding;

·       Mandatory training for licence holders for disability awareness following the amendment to the Equalities Act 2010;

·       Introduction of a suitability policy, superseding the current convictions policy for licence holders;

·       An updated definition of ‘fit and proper’;

·       Introduction of an enforcement policy outlining how the Service would ensure the Policy conditions and legislative standards were maintained during the life of a licence; and

·       Conditions for drivers, operators and vehicles had been revised.

The Environmental Health Commercial & Licensing Manager commented that, in addition, the Policy offered a response to Stevenage Borough Council declared climate emergency by phasing out older cars from the fleet.  Following liaison with the Head of Climate Action, the Policy removed Euro 4 vehicles from the fleet – this would provide a reasonable saving on CO2 emissions.  Currently, there was no short-term plan to remove the next oldest generation (Euro 5) vehicles from the fleet.  However, it would be possible for a review of the Policy, as necessary, in regard to this aspect.  This would be seen as a substantial change to Policy, requiring consultation.

The Environmental Health Commercial & Licensing Manager advised that the Policy had been developed following two rounds of consultation, and comments mad during this process had formed the Policy position.  The first consultation was undertaken in January-February 2023.  The Service received a number of responses to this consultation (76).  Two responses contained petitions signed by numerous drivers against the age policy for new and existing vehicles, leading to the 162 negative comments being counted for this point.  The second consultation spanned September – November 2023 and 2 responses were received.  The comments from both consultation exercises were set out in the report and its appendices.

The Environmental Health Commercial & Licensing Manager stated that final proof reading was undertaken and the Policy had been altered accordingly.

The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

To consider any Part I business accepted by the Chair as urgent.

None.

To consider the following motions –

1.       That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in Paragraphs 1 - 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act as amended by Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

2.       That Members consider the reasons for the following reports being in Part II and determine whether or not maintaining the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

Not required.

To consider any Part II items accepted by the Chair as urgent.

None.