Agenda and minutes

Licensing & Regulation Committee - Tuesday, 7th June, 2022 6.30 pm

Venue: Walton Suite, WInchester Guildhall

Contact: Nancy Graham, Senior Democratic Services Officer  Tel: 01962 848 235 Email:  ngraham@winchester.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

Disclosures of Interests

To receive any disclosure of interests from Members and Officers in matters to be discussed.

 

Note:  Councillors are reminded of their obligations to declare disclosable pecuniary interests, personal and/or prejudicial interests in accordance with legislation and the Council’s Code of Conduct.

 

If you require advice, please contact the appropriate Democratic Services Officer, prior to the meeting.

 

Minutes:

There were no disclosures of interest made.

2.

Appointment of vice-chairperson for the 2022/23 municipal year

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That Councillor McLean be appointed as the Vice-Chairperson of the committee for the 2022/23 municipal year.

3.

Minutes of the previous meeting pdf icon PDF 112 KB

Minutes of the previous meeting held on 10 March 2022

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That the minutes of the previous meeting held 10 March 2022 be agreed as a correct record.

4.

Public Participation

To receive and note questions asked and statements made from members of the public on issues relating to the responsibility of this Committee.

 

Minutes:

There were no questions asked or statements made.

5.

Taxi policy review (LR560) pdf icon PDF 276 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Licensing Manager (Interim) introduced the report and outlined the background to the review which was in response to recommendations from the Department for Transport published in July 2020 which had the primary aim to protect children and vulnerable adults. 

She advised that the council was proposing to adopt all of the proposed recommendations, with the exception of two.  One related to undertaking a review of the introduction of CCTV (as detailed in 13.3 to 13.7 of the report).  The second related to the requirement to obtain a certificate of good character where applicants had spent an extended time oversees where a period of six months was considered to be more appropriate than the recommended three month period.

The Licensing Manager also highlighted two additional pieces of relevant legislation published since the report was prepared – the Taxi and Private Hire Vehicles (Safeguarding and Road Safety) Act 2022 and the Taxi and Private Hire Vehicles (Disabled Persons) Act 2022.  She summarised the main proposals in both and confirmed that the council was either already implementing these or were in a position to implement quickly, easily and without any further change to the policy.

The Licensing Manager and the Service Lead – Public Protection responded to Members’ questions on the report and appendices.  It was clarified that the new guidance did not prohibit cross-authority hiring of vehicles, but did establish a common core of minimum standards in relation to taxi and private hire vehicles and drivers which all local authorities were expected to adopt.  The Licensing Manager also outlined more detail regarding the work required to be undertaken in a review to ascertain whether the introduction of CCTV vehicles was proportionate and justified and confirmed that it was intended to carry out the review in 2023. 

RESOLVED:

 

1.            That, subject to recommendation 2 below, the amendments to the Policy and the associated changes to driver, vehicle and operator licence conditions be agreed as set out in Appendix 1-4 of this report.

 

RECOMMENDED (to Cabinet):

 

2.            That the Statement of Licensing Policy as relates to Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicles, Drivers and Private Hire Operators, Appendix 1, be referred for consideration and approval.

 

Registering to speak at meetings of the council:

The information below relates to the majority of meetings of the council but please note that different rules do apply for registering to speak at meetings of Full Council, Licensing Sub Committees, Planning Committees, Open Forums, and the Standards Hearing and Human Resources Sub Committees and the Appointments Panel. Further information can be obtained using the contact details above.

Members of the public may speak at this meeting, provided they have registered to speak three working days in advance. Please contact Democratic Services via democracy@winchester.gov.uk or (01962) 848 264 to register to speak and for further details - which can also be found on the individual meeting agenda front sheets.

 

Licensing & Regulation Committee on Tuesday, 7th June, 2022, 6.30 pm{sidenav}{content}