Agenda item

To receive a report informing the Committee of a consultation exercise as part of the review of the North Tyneside Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy.

The Committee received a report which notified Members of the commencement of the consultation on the revised North Tyneside Council Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy.  Members were informed that they could submit any formal response to the consultation exercise via the Chair who would respond on behalf of the Committee.  Alternatively, a response could be submitted via the Council’s website.

The North Tyneside Transport Strategy, approved by Cabinet in May 2017, was committed to managing North Tyneside’s transport network effectively, considering all forms of travel including hackney carriage and private hire vehicles and set out that the Authority will support safeguarding of vulnerable people, for example through hackney carriage and private hire licensing policies and the design of infrastructure.  The North Tyneside Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy (the Policy) was listed in the Transport Strategy’s action and delivery plan and was due for renewal.

Following agreement from Cabinet in April 2019 that the Policy should be reviewed, an officer working group was set up to commence the review and make initial amendments to bring the Policy up-to-date.  Officers met with the North Tyneside Council Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Forum where members of the forum were asked to highlight any areas of the Policy that they would recommend be updated.

A revised draft Policy had been formulated for consultation purposes and was appended to the report.  As well as updated legislation, key amendments proposed to the Policy included:

·         Expansion of licensing objectives to include environmental considerations;

·         Allowing online applications;

·         Mandatory sign up by drivers/operators to the Disclosure and Barring Service Update Service; and

·         Additional offences to be considered as part of the application process and the period of time that an applicant must be free from certain convictions before an application for a licence is granted.

In addition, consultation questions were to be asked on several other issues to gauge the views of the trade and wider community on some of the proposed elements of the Policy.  These areas included:

·         Use of in-car digital advertisements;

·         Tinted windows when fitted as standard;

·         Amendments to the knowledge test; and

·         Introduction of a new objective – the promotion of environmental sustainability, along with age standards for new, replacement and renewal vehicles with lead in times.

A summary of the amendments proposed was appended to the report and on 14^th October 2019 Cabinet approved the commencement of the consultation of the Policy.

The Committee was informed that a process of public engagement on the proposed updated Policy would Commence on 28^th October 2019 for a period of 8 weeks.  This would include engagement through the Engagement Hub with residents and businesses including representatives of the hackney carriage and private hire trade and all Members.  At the conclusion of the consultation period the draft Policy would be presented to Cabinet for consideration.  It was anticipated that the updated Policy would be in place to commence from 1 April 2020.

The Committee sought clarification as to the consultation process and whether there would be an alternative to filling in the response online.  It was explained that paper copies would be available at the taxi licensing office and copies could be posted out to individuals if requested.  The survey was a mixture of yes/no questions and questions which required further comments.  A member of the Committee asked questions in relation to Home to School Transport.  It was agreed that relevant officers would be contacted and the information circulated to members of the Committee.

It was agreed to note the report.