Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Service Manager for Licensing and Community Safety Operations and to provide comments to the Licensing Committee.

The committee received and considered a report of the Service Manager for Licensing and Community Safety Operations which set out the draft Taxi Licensing Policy for Dorset Council.  The draft policy had been considered by the Licensing Committee and published in draft format for a period of public consultation.  The Place and Resources Overview Committee was invited to consider the draft policy and provide any comments to the Licensing Committee to be held on 17 November 2021.

Councillors considered the draft policy and comments were made in the following areas:

·            Welcoming of zoning measures in place in Weymouth

·            Issues around advertising – there was support for further work to be undertaken in respect of advertising on taxis

·            Clarification of DBS requirements

·            It was noted that when fees and charges were set, there would be a concession for fully electric vehicles

·            There was a request for further work to be undertaken in respect of the requirement for and use of dash cameras on taxis – this could be considered by the Licensing Committee

·            Options for the provision of and content of receipts was to be reviewed

·            A link to an online facility for recording lost property could be included on the relevant Dorset Council web page.

Having reviewed the draft Taxi Licensing Policy, the Place and Resources Overview Committee provided the comments as set out above to the Licensing Committee.

The Executive Director of Place confirmed that the points raised would be taken forward to the Licensing Committee.

The Council, as Licensing Authority under the Town Police Clause Act 1847 and the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, require a single policy to provide consistency across the district. The purpose of the policy is to define how the Council will exercise its responsibilities under the Act. The draft policy has been prepared by officers after consideration of responses from several focus groups. The draft is now ready to be considered by the Licensing Committee in preparation for it to be published, in draft format, for a period of public consultation, of not less than 12 weeks.

The Service Manager for Licensing & Community Safety Operations introduced the report and draft Taxi Licensing Policy.  This was the first Dorset Council Taxi Licensing Policy, prepared by officers after consideration of responses from the taxi trade and several focus groups. The draft Taxi Licensing Policy was to be considered by the Licensing Committee in preparation for publication, in draft format, for a period of public consultation, of not less than 12 weeks. 

The draft Taxi Licensing Policy would go to public consultation subject to any amendments discussed in the committee meeting.  It was fully expected to receive representations and submissions from the taxi trade, the public and other responsible authorities.  However, in the highly unlikely event of there being no response to the consultation, a small tweak to recommendation 2 was suggested to allow the Service Manager for Licensing & Community Safety Operations, in consultation with the Licensing Committee Chairman, to approve the Taxi Licensing Policy for adoption as opposed to recommend for adoption.  The Service Manager for Licensing & Community Safety Operations considered this highly unlikely to be required as he expected to receive a number of representations and each one would need to be considered.  Should there be additions, omissions or amendments to the policy following consultation, each of these would be brought to the full Licensing Committee for consideration prior to adoption of the full policy.

Following public consultation, the draft Taxi Licensing Policy would then go to the Overview Committee for comment and consideration prior to coming back to Licensing Committee for adoption.

The best bits of the 5 former district and borough councils’ policies had been incorporated into the draft Taxi Licensing Policy which had also been brought up to date with new standards, legislation, Safe & Suitable, National Inspection Standards and best practice.

The Licensing Committee members were invited to discuss the contents of the draft Taxi Licencing Policy and make comments/raise points/suggest amendments to the policy for update prior to public consultation.

Subject to making the amendments requested, the Licensing Committee was minded to approve the recommendations and recommended that the Service Manager for Licensing & Community Safety Operations take the decision accordingly.

The Service Manager for Licensing & Community Safety Operations decided that;

1) the draft Taxi Licence Policy, including amendments made in the meeting, be published for a period of public consultation of not less than 12 weeks.

2) subject to their being no relevant representations, the Service

Manager for Licensing & Community Safety Operations, in consultation with the Chairman of the Licensing Committee approves the draft Taxi Licence Policy for adoption as opposed to recommendation for adoption.

3) should relevant representations be received, which require consideration

of one or more significant amendments to the policy, instruct officers to bring

a further report to the meeting of the Licensing Committee with the

outcomes of the consultation.

Reason for Decision

1) To ensure openness and transparency in the Council’s decision making,

and

2) To ensure that those persons affected by the policy are given the

opportunity to have  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10