Agenda and minutes

Venue: COUNCIL CHAMBER

Contact: Email: committees@midsussex.gov.uk 

Items
No. Item

1.

To note Substitutes in Accordance with Council Procedure Rule 4 - Substitutes at Meetings of Committees etc.

Minutes:

None.

2.

To receive apologies for absence.

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Councillors Cherry, Dorking, Forbes and Marsh.

3.

To receive Declarations of Interest from Members in respect of any matter on the Agenda.

Minutes:

None.

4.

To confirm the Minutes of the meetings of the Committee held on 2 July 2018.

Minutes:

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 2 July 2018 were confirmed as correct records and signed by the Chairman.

5.

To consider any items that the Chairman agrees to take as urgent business.

Minutes:

None.

6.

Update to Licensing Committee on the use of the Penalty Points Scheme, Progress Towards the Introduction of White Livery for Hackney Vehicles, the National Register of Revocations and Refusals And Endorsement of Driver Safety Campaign pdf icon PDF 26 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Paul Thornton, Senior Licensing Officer introduced the report which provided Committee with an update on the use of the Penalty Points Scheme for licensed drivers and operators by officers, the progress towards a white livery for hackney vehicles, the National Register of Revocations and Refusals and to seek the Licensing Committee’s endorsement of a driver safety campaign.

 

The Licensing Officer advised that the Penalty Points system had been in place since April 2017 and the Appendix listed the 26 occasions where penalty points had been issued; he advised that since the report was written penalty points had been issued on a further two occasions.  He also informed Members that the National Register is a new concept and the aim is to collate information from England and Wales in one location which all licensing authorities can access.  Currently the Council informs other neighbouring authorities if a licence is revoked.

 

A Member welcomed the report and commented that it was good to see the issuing of penalty points and agreed that the car stickers were a good idea.  He commented that it was also a good idea to have all taxis with the same white livery.

 

A Member commented that it was good to see the reasons why drivers appeared in before the Licensing Committee and noted that a third were for not displaying door signs on the vehicle. 

 

In response to a question the Licensing Officer advised that it would not be mandatory for the drivers to display the car sticker.  However a visible position would be preferable as it would remind the public not to assault or abuse the drivers.  He informed Committee that only 22% of vehicles now have a white livery and the revised livery policy would come into force in October 2022.  A Member commented that he did not want license holders to give excuses for not complying with the new policy.  The Licensing Officer advised Committee that from October 2022 non-white hackney carriages would not be licensed as the revised policy was listed in the license conditions. 

 

A Member asked whether there was a process in place to annually remind drivers of the livery change.  The Licensing Officer advised that a letter could be sent if the Committee required it; the Committee all agreed and it was noted by the Officer.  Yvonne Leddy, Business Unit Leader Environmental Health and Building Control, replied that a similar mail shot had been completed when the policy changed which stated the maximum permitted age of a hackney carriage. 

 

The Chairman noted no more Members wished to speak so moved the Committee to the recommendation to note the report and endorsement from the Committee for participation in use of the driver safety campaign sticker.

           

RESOLVED

           

The Committee noted the contents of the report and unanimously agreed to endorse participation in use of the driver safety campaign sticker.

7.

Request for Increase in Hackney Carriage Fares 2018 an Annual Tariff Increase Based on a Percentage Formula pdf icon PDF 25 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Paul Thornton, Senior Licensing Officer introduced the report for the Licensing Committee to consider an application from a section of the taxi trade requesting an increase in the Hackney Carriage fares. He informed Committee that the licensing team had written to all licence holders to advise that Station Taxis had requested an increase for the fares and 50% of the replies agreed with an increase.  The Officer advised that there has been no increase since 2014 and that the Council were ranked 14 out of 370 for cost of fares in the Private Hire and Trade Magazine; the closet other areas were Wealden and Brighton and Hove and he could not advise were the Council would be ranked if the increase was approved. 

 

In response to a question the Officer advised that the increase would only affect Hackney Carriages as they use a meter and it would advise the maximum charge but a driver could charge less.  Private Hire vehicles are not regulated so the increase would not affect them.

 

Several Members commented that the tariff uses imperial measurements.

 

The Chairman noted no more Members wished to speak so moved the Committee to the recommendation to

 

(a)        Increase the Hackney Flag Tariff by 20p with no reduction in initial yardage.

(b)        Reduce the distance covered for 20p thereafter from 160 yards to 153 yards.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the Committee endorses the increase in the Hackney Carriage fares.

8.

Hackney and Private Hire Driver Code of Conduct pdf icon PDF 23 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Franca Currall, the Solicitor for Licensing introduced the report to seek the Committee’s views regarding the introduction of a Code of Conduct for all licensed drivers as detailed in the attached document. The Code would apply to all licensed drivers and would form part of the Council’s Taxi Licensing Policy.  The Officer informed Committee that it is hoped it would install some discipline and the Code of Conduct was fairly broad, but covered items such as rank etiquette.  

 

A Member welcomed the introduction of the code of conduct policy and praised the officers for their work in preparing the policy.  He commented on condition 5 (f) and asked period of abstinence from consuming alcohol before driving should be more time specific.  The Solicitor for Licensing advised that research had been undertaken, whilst drafting the policy, to use as a bench mark.  However more research would be done to fine tune the policy.  The Member welcomed the further review. 

 

In response to the suggestion for an equipment check list to ensure drivers had door signs on their vehicles, the Senior Licensing Officer advised that this was already part of their licence conditions. 

 

A Member requested an addition to condition 5(b) that drivers should speak with consideration to their passengers; the Solicitor for Licensing agreed to review the policy. 

 

The Chairman noted no more Members wished to speak so moved the Committee to the recommendation which was unanimously agreed subject to minor revisions.

 

RESOLVED

 

The Committee agreed that subject to minor revisions the policy would be forwarded to the Scrutiny Committee for Community, Housing and Planning to consider endorsing the introduction of a Code of Conduct for all licensed drivers.

9.

Disability Act -Training for Licensed Drivers pdf icon PDF 76 KB

Minutes:

Paul Thornton, Senior Licensing Officer, introduced the report to seek the Committee’s views about adding a condition to Mid Sussex District Council’s Taxi Licensing Policy whereby attendance at Disability Awareness and Equality Act Training is compulsory for all current and new private hire and hackney carriage and forms part of the ‘fit and proper person’ test.  The Officer advised that Disability Awareness and Equality Act Training is not mandatory and a driver had recently been prosecuted for failing to take an assistance dog; there were also other cases under investigation.  He advised that it is a problem with a minority of drivers but training would enhance driver’s awareness of the public and the law.  A small scoping exercise had been completed with an external company and the cost to driver could be £30. Both current and new drivers would have 12 months to complete the training; the Licensing Team would provide the trainer’s details to the drivers who would provide evidence of course completion to the Licensing Team.  He advised that one national company is interested in providing the course along with other companies so wide courage could be provided. 

 

A Member felt that this was a good idea as the Licensing Sub-Committee A had wanted to suggest a Disability Awareness course to a driver but could not provide a suitable course.

 

A Member suggested that new drivers complete the course before applying for a licence but existing drivers have 12 months for completion.  However, the Senior Licensing Officer advised that course availability might be a problem; if a company can run several courses a year it might be viable.   In response to drivers having a shorter time to complete the course, the Senior Licensing Officer advised that without reference to the course provider and number of courses possible it might put pressure on the Licensing Team.  The Policy could be revised at a later date.  A Member asked whether refresher courses would be required but the Officer advised that there were no plans at this stage. 

 

The Solicitor for Licensing informed the Committee that any change in Police or decision made by the Council is subject to Judicial Review. Any challenge under Judical Review needs to be made within three months of any change. Once the Policy has been brought into force there then cannot be a legal challenge against decisions made in line with that Policy 

 

In reply to a question the Senior Licensing Officer stated that the training would be required for both Hackney Carriage and Private Hire drivers.

           

A Member queried how the public know vehicles can take disabled passengers.  The Senior Licensing Officer advised that those vehicles have a wheelchair symbol on the licence plate and they are normally multipurpose vehicles.  The Member responded that the symbol should be more prominent.  The Officer advised the comment had been noted and could be added later. 

 

A Member commented that they were happy for the policy to go to the Scrutiny Committee but subject to the revisions  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

10.

Proposal to Introduce Compulsory Safeguarding Training for Licensed Drivers pdf icon PDF 29 KB

Minutes:

Paul Thornton, Senior Licensing Officer, advised the report had been brought to Committee due to the number of national reports on safeguarding issues and not because of our licenced drivers being guilty.  There is a need to educate drivers on the signs of abuse, what they steps they should take and who they should inform. The Licensing Team have previously undertaken training with Barnardos as a grant had been secured from West Sussex County Council, the training had been successful even though some of the drivers had initially been sceptical.  Barnardos training was good but it ceased when the funding run out, but 75% of the drivers had attended. The aim of this report is to make safeguarding training mandatory and new drivers would have 12 months to complete the training.

 

A Member commented he was happy to recommend the report and was also content with the timescales to complete the training.

 

A Member asked whether the safeguarding training would be regularly updated, possibly annually like other organisations e.g. schools. The officer advised he would make a note of this and build it into the report.  However there are over 600 drivers, and they would have to bear the cost of the training. Drivers who had not completed the free training would have to pay for training.

 

A Member suggested that the cost of the course be incorporated into the license fee and the Senior Licensing Officer advised that this could be investigated.

 

A Member suggested that drivers complete the disability awareness and equalities training at the same time as the safeguarding training and the licensing officer advised he would talk to the trading provider.

 

The Chairman noted no more Members wished to speak so moved the Committee to the recommendation which was unanimously agreed subject to minor revisions.

 

RESOLVED

 

The Committee agreed that subject to minor revisions the policy would be forwarded to the Scrutiny Committee for Community, Housing and Planning to consider endorsing a change in the Taxi Licensing Policy.

11.

Animal Welfare Licensing pdf icon PDF 28 KB

Minutes:

Paul Thornton, Senior Licensing Officer, introduced the report and highlighted paragraph 14 to the committee and advised that the report has been withdrawn from Scrutiny Committee.  They had taken legal advice as the new regulations do not mention licensing committees so the decision will be made at officer level. That would include revoking or refusing a renewal and new licence applications. The Officer informed Committee that there is always the possibility of an appeal which is a first tier tribunal. Some of the previous legislation dated from 1925.  The new regulations are prescriptive, some terminology has been borrowed from the gambling act; it covers general welfare and specific conditions depending on the type of animals. It introduces the concept of a star risk rating similar to the rating for food premises. The main change is that the Council now have a statutory obligation to inspect premises, produce reports and risk assessments. There is no transition period with this revised legislation.

 

A Member queried whether this legislation covers donations to animal rescue charities.  The Officer advised it might but it was ambiguous, however they had been receiving many enquiries from the public as details of the new legislation had been put on the Council’s website. They may have to apply some business tests which would determine whether selling animals is a regular or a one-off event.

 

A Member asked whether it covered dog walkers.  In response the Officer advised that this is not a licensable activity and therefore the new legislation does not apply.

  

A Member asked who people report dangerous dogs to. The Licensing Officer informed the Committee that dangerous dogs should be reported to Sussex Police along with dogs that are out of control.  However some areas may be covered by local bylaws.

 

The Chairman noted no more Members wished to speak so moved the Committee to the recommendation to note the new regulations up to point 13 in the report.

 

RESOLVED

The Committee noted the new regulations.

 

12.

Questions pursuant to Council Procedure Rule 10.2 due notice of which has been given.

Minutes:

None.