Issue - meetings

RECOMMENDED:   That the revised licensing procedures and conditions be adopted.

Reason for Decision

To introduce safeguarding awareness for combined drivers and keep the current procedures and conditions up to date and fit for purpose.

Cabinet considered a report which explained that following high profile cases of child sexual exploitation (CSE) involving taxi drivers in places such as Rotherham, the Borough Council wished to introduce safeguarding awareness training for members of the taxi trade.  To ensure that members of the trade complete this training would require an amendment to licensing conditions.  The amendment to conditions would empower the Licensing & Appeals Board to take action against those who do not complete the training voluntarily.

It was therefore proposed that the Borough Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Procedures & Conditions be amended to include a requirement that all existing licensed combined drivers and new applicants for combined drivers either attend safeguarding training or pass the ‘safeguarding’ element of the Borough Council’s Knowledge Test.

It was noted that whilst introducing this new requirement the opportunity had been taken to make minor amendments to three existing licensing conditions; Driver Standard Agency (DSA), window tints and ‘MOT tests for hackney carriages and private hire vehicles.

In endorsing the proposals Members drew attention to the fact that a large number of drivers had already voluntarily attended a safeguarding training session.

RECOMMENDED:      That the revised licensing procedures and conditions be adopted.

Reason for Decision

To introduce safeguarding awareness for combined drivers and keep the current procedures and conditions up to date and fit for purpose.