No declarations of interest were received.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Brown, Derbyshire, Alexis Diouf, Peter Innes, Avis Murphy, Tom Murphy and Perkins.

The Licensing Manager submitted a report for Members to consider proposed amendments to the terms of reference of the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Consultative Committee (Taxi Consultative Committee), which aimed to:

·        Strengthen the representative role and nature of trade representatives;

·        Clarify the nomination and appointment process for trade representatives to the Committee;

·        Reinforce the importance of good attendance and contribution of members to meetings of the Committee;

·        Enhance continuity of representation.

The report set out the background to and the reasons for the following proposed amendments:

·        The nomination of trade representatives to be supported by ten other licence holders and to be submitted in writing in advance;

·        In the event of more than six nominations of trade representatives being made, the majority agreement of all those nominated to be required as to which six nominations to put forward or, in the event of there not being majority agreement, for the elected Members of the Committee to determine this having regard to achieving as wide a representation as possible from different operators and drivers and to equalities issues;

·        The opportunity to appoint one reserve representative each for hackney carriage and for private hire licence holders to participate in meetings in the absence of one of the other three representatives to be included;

·        The level at which members forfeit their place to be reduced to missing two consecutive meetings without good reason;

·        The appointment of trade representatives to be for a period of two years.

It was noted that initial proposals had been discussed at the Taxi Consultative Committee meeting in January, 2017, and that the revised proposals detailed in the report had been supported by trade representatives at the Taxi Consultative Committee meeting in April, 2017.

Councillor Caulfield, Chair of the Taxi Consultative Committee, and the Licensing Manager emphasised that it was hoped that the proposed changes would enhance the consultative process and meaningful discussion with the local taxi trade.

* RESOLVED –

(1)     That the proposed amendments to the Terms of Reference of the Taxi Consultative Committee detailed in the report be approved.

(2)     That the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy be amended to include the revised Terms of Reference of the Taxi Consultative Committee.

(3)       That nomination of trade representatives for a two year term from June 2017 be invited in accordance with the revised terms of reference.