19 BLR/21/9 NEW HACKNEY CARRIAGE AND PRIVATE HIRE VEHICLE LICENSING POLICY PDF 221 KB
Report from the Licensing Team attached.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
19.1 Katherine Green, Licensing Officer presented Paper BLR/21/9 to the Committee, reporting back the outcome of a full targeted and public consultation, which ran between the 20 August 2021 and 16 September 2021, in respect of the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing Policy for the controlled zone of Babergh District Council.
19.2 The Licensing Officer responded to Members’ questions including: clarification of the changes in the document, the costs of replacing vehicles for disabled access vehicles, comments by the public on accessible vehicles, the frequency of the BTEC training courses, and when existing drivers would need to take the training course.
19.3 During the discussion, Members debated whether the Council could cover the costs or offer discounts to drivers taking the BTEC training course, and if the retraining period could be extended from 3 to 5 years.
19.4 Councillor Sue Carpendale proposed that the recommendations contained in Paper BLR/21/9 be approved. Councillor Sue Ayres seconded this proposal.
19.5 With 4 votes for and 1 against,
It was RESOLVED:
That the post consultation draft Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing Policy, attached as Appendix A, be approved.
It was RECOMMENDED TO CABINET:
That the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing Policy document be adopted.
Councillor Sian Dawson joined the meeting at 14:37pm.
11 BLR/21/4 NEW HACKNEY CARRIAGE AND PRIVATE HIRE VEHICLE LICENSING POLICY PDF 219 KB
Report from the Licensing Team attached.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
11.1 Katherine Green, Licensing Officer presented Paper BLR/21/4 to the Committee. The report referred to the review of the current Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing Policy for the controlled zone of Babergh District Council.
11.2 Officers had undertaken a root and branch review of the current Hackney Carriage (Taxi) and Private Hire Policy in accordance with the new Statutory Standards for Taxi and Private Hire Vehicles. Having reviewed the current policy, officers were proposing a new Policy for consultation, as set out in Appendix A.
11.3 Members commented that it would be helpful to receive hard copies of large documents as it was difficult to read them on the screen.
11.4 The Chairman advised Members that she would go through the Policy document section by section to ask if there were any questions.
11.5 The Licensing Officers responded to Members’ questions including: tax checks, driver’s dress code, wheelchair accessible vehicles and vehicles accessible for customers with other mobility needs, child seats, insurance checks, consultation with bordering authorities and the Town Council.
11.6 It was noted that any typographical errors and amendments to wording would be picked up during the consultation process and corrected as necessary.
11.7 During the discussion, Members commented regarding the amount of disabled and taxi spaces available in Sudbury. Councillor Beer commented that all parking in Sudbury needs reviewing.
11.8 The Licensing Officer responded that she was aware that Suffolk County Highways are currently undertaking a review of parking and infrastructure in Sudbury. Also, a new taxi rank for Sudbury had been designated but could not proceed until the SCC review had been completed.
11.9 Councillor Beer proposed that the recommendation contained in Paper BLR/21/4 be approved. Councillor Dawson seconded the proposal.
It was RESOLVED:
That the draft Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Policy document attached as Appendix A be approved for consultation. Further, that the relevant officers proceed with a 28-day consultation period with the licensed trade, general public and other relevant stakeholders.