Agenda item

Report of Executive Director for Communities, Culture and Homes proposing a Taxi policy in accordance with the Department for Transport statutory guidance to be adopted by the Council.

The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director Communities, Culture and Homes proposing a Taxi policy in accordance with the Department for Transport statutory guidance to be adopted by the Council. 

Southampton City Council Officers Phil Bates, Licensing Manager and Russell Hawkins, Senior Licensing Officer were present and with the consent of the Chair addressed the meeting.

Representations were received from Ali Haydor (Southampton Private Hire Trade), Clive Johnson, Ian Hall and Perry McMillan (Southampton Hackney Association) were in attendance and with the consent of the Chair addressed the meeting. 

The Committee discussed:

·  The requirement for licence holders to maintain a basic or higher DBS certificate of individuals names in a register of all staff who have access to customer personal data. 

·  The cost of DBS certificates for drivers and operators.

·  The use of door signs on vehicles.

·  The installation of digital cameras to protect customer and vehicle drivers. 

·  Dress code of drivers.

·  Parked private hire cars.   

RESOLVED:

(i)  To consider the contents of this report, appendices and any comments or representations made on the policy attached as appendix 1 to the report;

(ii)  To defer the decision on the option of door signage for private hire vehicles whilst officers gather more information on the implications this is likely to have;

(iii)  To adopt the remainder of the Statement of Taxi Licensing Policy and appendices, attached as Appendix 1 to the report;

(iv)  To delay the requirement for applicants for either hackney carriage driver or private hire driver licences to have passed an approved English and Maths test until an approved provider has been procured; and

(v)  To delegate to the Licensing Manager, in consultation with the Chair of the Licensing Committee, the authority to approve the standard of the tests in recommendation (iv) and the date the policy will be applied.