Agenda item

The Principal Officer (Licensing), Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS) reminded Licensing Committee Members that the Committee had previously directed officers to carry out a short, targeted consultation exercise with a view to resolving an issue that had arisen for the hackney carriage and private hire trade in Bromsgrove; following the Council adopting a new Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy on 1st September 2022.

The Council had implemented a new Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Policy with effect from 1st September 2022, which was later amended with effect from 1st April 2023.

The policy contained requirements in respect of the licensing of vehicles to be used as a hackney carriage or private hire vehicle, as detailed at Appendix 1 to the report.

During the Licensing Committee meeting held  on 11th November 2024, Members were informed that one of the changes that the new policy had introduced was a stipulation that the Council would no longer licence any vehicle to be used as either a hackney carriage or private hire vehicle if it had been graded as a Category A, Category B or Category C or Category S write-off for insurance purposes.

Paragraphs 3.1.10 and 3.2.10 of the policy sets this out in respect of those vehicles being licensed by the Council to be used as a hackney carriage or private hire vehicle for the first occasion.

The new policy stated that the Council would also not renew any licence to use a vehicle as a hackney carriage if the vehicle has been graded as a Category A, Category B or Category C or Category S write-off for insurance purposes. Paragraphs 3.3.11 and 3.4.11 of the policy being the relevant paragraphs in the policy.

The wording currently used in paragraphs 3.3.11 and 3.4.11 of the policy meant that vehicles that were licensed before the new policy had taken effect, and were previously graded as a Category A, Category B or Category C or Category S write-off, would no longer comply with the Council’s policy, even though vehicle had been licensed for a number of years without any issues arising.

The consultation exercise took place between 13th August 2024 and 27th September 2024. As well as being sent to licence holders by email, the details of the consultation exercise were also sent to:

· West Mercia Police

· Police and Crime Commissioner

· Worcestershire County Council – School Transport

· Community Safety

· Bromsgrove Depot Management

· National Taxi and Private Hire Trade Associations

The consultation was undertaken using an online survey tool. The background to the consultation exercise was set out and then two short questions were asked. The questions asked and the responses received were summarised in Appendix 3 to the report.

Responses were received from a variety of respondents including licensed drivers, Councillors and members of the public. Responses were also received from the Police and the National Private Hire and Taxi Association (NPHTA). With the majority of respondents (78.6%) agreeing with the Council amending the wording contained in Paragraphs 3.3.11 and 3.4.11 of the Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Policy.

Members were now being asked to consider the results of the consultation exercise and if a minor amendment to the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy should be made to the wording contained in paragraphs 3.3.11 and 3.4.11 of the policy. Officers had proposed alternative wording, as detailed at Appendix 2 to the report.

Officers believed that the amended wording would mean that anyone who had licensed a vehicle prior to the implementation of the new policy (in September 2022) would still be able to continue using the vehicle as a hackney carriage or private hire vehicle for as long as it complied with the Council’s other requirements, even if the vehicle was graded as a Category A, Category B or Category C or Category S write-off when it had first been licensed.

The Principal Officer (Licensing), WRS responded to a number of questions from the Committee and in doing so stated that any vehicles one they reached their natural end of life would need to be replaced; or even replaced earlier if the vehicle was expensive to maintain. The tests carried out at the Council’s depot were very rigid.

Worcestershire County Council, Worcestershire Taxi Driver Training involved a day of training. Applicants must sit and pass a written multiple-choice test. The training covered a number of subjects, which included:-

·       Safeguarding

·       Licence Conditions

·       Vehicle Conditions

·       Customer Safety and care

·       Disability Awareness

RESOLVED that

a)    paragraphs 3.3.11 and 3.4.11 of the current Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy be amended, as detailed at Appendix 2 to the report; and

b)    the draft Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy, as detailed at Appendix 4 to the report (with the amended paragraphs) be approved to take effect from 12th November 2024.