Issue - meetings

Trevor Durham reported that the Licensing section was continuing to operate during the Covid-19 pandemic with revised processes where required and that it was hoped to be able to process new applications again from later in July. Vehicle tests would be available again from the beginning of August, with standard MOTs from other MOT testing centres being accepted until October.

He reported that three drivers’ licences had been revoked during the previous three months, with one case proceeding to appeal.

Steve Ashby reported that during the previous three months one driver’s licence (and their operator’s licence) had been revoked. Two applications for new driver licences had been refused by the Appeals and Regulatory Committee. An appeal against revocation had been successfully defended at Magistrates Court.

The computerised knowledge tests had commenced and waiting times for a test had reduced to less than 10 days.

33 vehicles had failed their test, although it had not been necessary to issue any penalty points.

The unmet demand survey to review the limit on the number of hackney carriage licences in the borough was being planned for later in the year.

Steve Ashby reported that further amendments to the taxi policy were being considered, covering:

·        Electronic knowledge tests;

·        Removal of the need for references;

·        Modification of terminology used in the dress code in light of recent advice from the government’s equality office;

·        Amendment to the exclusion period for those with convictions to fall in line with national guidance recently published by the Institute of Licensing and supported by the government - exclusion periods to run from the end of the sentence instead of the date of conviction;

·        The payment of an application fee, to be deducted from the full fee if successful;

·        Requiring private hire drivers to notify the Council of which operator they are working for.

Once formulated, the amendments would be subject to consultation.

During the previous three months one driver’s licence had been revoked and five drivers had been suspended for failing to attend child sexual exploitation (CSE) awareness sessions.  CSE awareness sessions for new applicants would be delivered jointly with North East Derbyshire and Bolsover from August, alternating between the town hall and NED’s offices at Wingerworth.

20 vehicles had failed their test, with penalty points being issued on only one occasion.

Due to the increase in taxi numbers (20% over last 3 years) the licensing section would shortly be recruiting additional staff - ½ post enforcement, ½ post officer and _1/5 post assistant.

Trade representatives expressed concern at the length of time for new drivers to become licensed, resulting in some operators using drivers licensed in other authorities to fulfil contracts. Steve Ashby explained that the DBS, medical, knowledge and driving tests were necessary in order to ensure public safety and that electronic knowledge tests would increase the availability of tests. He confirmed that a three month temporary licence could be issued if an applicant had a long wait for a driving test and that applicants from abroad had to produce a certificate of good conduct from the previous country.

Trevor Durham reported that during the previous three months one driver’s licence had been revoked. 

17 vehicles had failed their test, which was a record low, with penalty points being issued on two occasions.

The issuing of vehicle licences at the Eckington test station had commenced on 15 May, 2017. A concern was raised that the test station was insisting on fitting new backing plates at each test. Trevor Durham was pursuing this with North East Derbyshire District Council.

Three policy changes had come into effect on 28 June, 2017:

·        All new and renewal DBS checks would be processed using the DBS update service;

·        The Council would maintain and publish a list of wheelchair accessible vehicles – operators were asked to notify Licensing of any wheelchair accessible private hire vehicles which could then be included on the list along with wheelchair accessible hackney carriages;

·        Any CCTV fitted in a licensed vehicle must not be on continuous audible recording.

Simon Tranter asked representatives to notify DCC Highways of any locations where dropped kerbs were required to enable access for wheelchairs to vehicles.

Mandy Shaw requested an update on the simplification of the policy documents which had been previously proposed, as these were very large, with significant repetition and were difficult to understand for prospective drivers sitting their test. Trevor Durham explained that it was hoped to simplify the documentation, whilst ensuring that it included sufficient detail to enable its enforcement where necessary and to ensure that drivers understood what was required of them. It was noted that the test process had already been streamlined to some extent (no geographical paper for private hire licences; requirement to resit only the paper failed), but Trevor agreed to submit a report to the next meeting on further improvements to the policy documents.

Steve Ashby reported that during the previous three months one driver had been suspended. 

Further training sessions on child sexual exploitation had been held in June, following which the training was being revised to make it of greater relevance for tax drivers. 

28 vehicles had failed their test, with penalty points being issued on one occasion. Penalty points and warning letters had also been issued in respect of the six vehicles prohibited during the exercise with the police. It was confirmed that any faults identified on vehicles licensed in Rossendale were identified to the drivers and reported to Rossendale if significant.

Invitations to tender for the test station contract were due to be invited in September. It was noted that contracts could be awarded to more than one station if appropriate and if within a reasonable distance of the town.

The application process for a driver’s licence was being revised to require an applicant to only have to retake the paper they had failed, not the papers they had already passed.

The three Elected Members of the Committee had accompanied officers on the evening of Saturday 2 July for a look at the night time economy. The Members thanked the trade representatives for their cooperation and commended the trade for the level of service observed.