Agenda and minutes

Members were provided with information in respect of an appeal against the decision that was made to refuse the grant of a Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licence.

Members were informed that the appeal was heard by a District Judge who concluded that the Council should have dealt with the application as a renewal and that the Council had made an understandable mistake by not doing so. The District Judge made no order against the Council for costs.

RESOLVED:                  That the report be noted.

Members were asked to consider amendments to the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver's Knowledge Test, as detailed in the circulated report.

Members queried whether the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver's Knowledge Test be available in Welsh translation. It was noted that the Licensing Manager would get advice and report back to Committee.

RESOLVED:              1.  that the revised knowledge test include the following sections:-

·       Section 1 - Shortest and most direct routes (oral)

·       Section 2 - Identifying Roads

·       Section 3 - Identifying landmarks / places of interest

·       Section 4 - Policy and Legislation

·       Section 5 - Safeguarding (including CSE)

·       Section 6 - Basic Numeracy

·       Section 7 - Basic English

2.    that the revised test shall be renamed the "knowledge and suitability test"

3.    that the pass mark for each section shall be 80%

4.    that the revised test be implemented for all new applications received after the 1st October 2016.

Members were asked to consider amendments to the Taxi Licensing Policy.

Members noted that following the decision of a district judge to overturn the Council's decision to refuse a new Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licence, it was necessary to make minor amendments to the renewal process contained within the Taxi Licensing Policy.

RESOLVED:                  that the amendments contained within the Taxi Licensing Policy, attached at appendix 1 to the circulated report, be approved.