To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 7 June 2021.

The minutes of the meeting held on 7 June 2021 were submitted for approval.

Decision

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Licensing Committee meeting held on 7 June 2021.

The report of the Director of Planning, Building Control and Licensing is enclosed.

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Planning, Building Control and Licensing regarding proposed Greater Manchester (GM) Minimum Licensing Standards for Taxis and Private Hire to help deliver a safer, more professional, and more environmentally friendly service across the whole of the GM region. The aim of licensing standards is to harmonise standards across the ten authorities, ensuring each authority work collaboratively on policies for these licensing functions that seek to support and not undermine each other, and are the preferred option for residents and visitors.

The Licensing Unit Manager presented information from the report that provided detailed consultation feedback and officer recommendations on the Drivers, Operator and Local Authority Standard elements at Stage 1. A Stage 2 report outlining the proposed Vehicle Standard recommendations will be provided later in the year.

The Committee was taken through each of the standards and invited to ask questions or comment.

Driver proposed Standard 1 - Enhanced Criminal Record Checks

It is proposed that all drivers will be required to undertake an enhanced disclosure check through the DBS to include barred lists (such as details of unspent convictions and police cautions). Drivers must also register to the DBS Update Service and maintain that registration to enable the licensing authority to routinely check for new information every 6 months as a minimum. NB. If a licence has not been issued within 6 months of a DBS certificate issue date, then a further enhanced DBS will be required (unless the applicant is registered with the Update Service) Licensing Authority to ensure sufficient background checks are conducted on applicants who have (from the age of 18) spent 3 continuous months or more living outside of the UK – this includes requiring a certificate of good conduct authenticated by the relevant embassy as necessary.

MCC - Standard already met for DBS certificates and checks but don’t currently conducted on overseas background checks.

The Committee was informed of the difficulty in making background checks on individuals that resided or had spent time in other countries. DBS checks are always made, but unless records are held on the Police National Computer then it may not be possible access information about an individual’s conduct whilst abroad. The report outlined the flaws in the current processes for obtaining overseas certificates of good conduct, and the risks to this being made a mandatory requirement due to the costs involved (which would significantly increase the licence fees), and would likely deter licensees coming to GM authorities but working here anyway without having those checks conducted, unless it was a national mandatory requirement.

Members of the Committee referred to the importance of ensuring Hackney Carriage and Private Hire drivers are properly validated before being allowed to drive members of the public and requested that a further report be submitted on overseas certificates of good conduct.

The Committee was informed that the Council has a policy to conduct DBS checks on all licensed drivers every six months. It was not always possible  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

The officers consider that the following item or items contains exempt information as provided for in the Local Government Access to Information Act and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information. The Committee is recommended to agree the necessary resolutions excluding the public from the meeting during consideration of these items. At the time this agenda is published no representations have been that this part of the meeting should be open to the public.

Decision

To exclude the public during consideration of the following item which involved consideration of exempt information relating to the financial or business affairs of particular persons, and public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

The report of the Head of Planning, Building Control and Licensing is enclosed.

The Committee was advised that the applicant was unable to attend the meeting due to illness and not currently being in the UK and had submitted a request via their family for the application be deferred to a later date.

The Committee considered the request to defer the application.

Decision

The Committee agreed to defer consideration of the application to the next scheduled meeting to provide time for the applicant to recover from their illness and return to the UK.