Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

None were received.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the last meeting as enclosed.

The minutes of the last meeting were approved as a correct record.

To consider the temporary relaxation of taxi driver application requirements to accommodate covid-secure measures.

The Environmental Health & Licensing Manager introduced the report which set out options via which the Council could carry out their legal duty to issue taxi licenses during the ongoing pandemic.

Councillor Lishman commented on the importance of carrying out the safety checks but requested that a review of the procedures be carried out after 6 months.

Councillor Baker echoed Cllr Lishman`s comments and asked whether this would also apply for renewals as well as new licenses.  The officer informed the committee this was for all applications.

Cllr Hussain asked if the fees would be reduced to reflect the shorter license duration, and was informed that this facility is already available.

Cllr Townsend asked what would happen at the end of the 1 year license period.  Would a two year license then be granted to fall in with the 3 year renewal cycle, or would a new 3 year renewal application be required?  The Officer responded that the Committee could make a decision on that issue. 

Following further discussion, it was moved by Cllr Townsend and seconded by Cllr Lishman that:

That the Licensing Committee agree to the interim relaxation of taxi driver licence application requirements to allow the use of:

1.    Group 2 Medicals (with access to GP records) to support the issue of a 1 year driver licence, in circumstances where the applicant`s own GP is not offering the service.

2.    Online Knowledge Tests (as prescribed by the Council)

3.    Online safeguarding training (as prescribed by the Council)

and in each case a 12 month licence be issued. 

These interim procedures to be reviewed after 6 months, and that following the expiration of a 12 month license, a new application for a renewal would be required meeting full safeguarding requirements.

On being put to the meeting, the motion received assent, and the motion is therefore carried.