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, which summarised the key points in the recently published non-statutory DfT Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing Best Practice Guidance for Licensing Authorities In England. The report included a summary of  officer’s concerns about the Guidance, sought views with regards to feeding back those concerns to the DfT, as well as responding to the current Wolverhampton consultation on Taxi and Private Hire Policy revisions. In addition, the report proposed several initial policy revisions for Manchester alongside other areas that the Committee may wish to instruct officers to consult further upon.

The Principal Licensing Officer (Compliance) introduced the report highlighting key points for consideration.  The Committee was invited to note the report and consider the following recommendations:

·       To instruct officers to consult on updating the Private Hire Operator Conditions to include:
• The disability awareness training requirement
• The accessibility requirement of booking platforms

·       To instruct officers to consult with the trade on
• Vehicle Age Policy; and
• NCAP ratings

·       To remove the current tint requirement for rear passenger windows in the private hire vehicles policy with immediate effect and replace it with the following:
a) Front windscreen – min. 75% light transmission
b) Front side door glass – min. 70% light transmission
c) Rear door glass - min. 30% light transmission
d) Rear window – manufacturer’s tint

·       To approve the Private Hire door sticker design to replace the bonnet sticker requirement

·       To approve the removal of the requirement for licensed vehicles to carry fire extinguishers and first aid kits

·       To request Officers to respond to the City of Wolverhampton public consultation on behalf of the Licensing Authority subject to comments by the Committee

·       To request officers to provide a written response to the DfT on the following areas of the Guidance:
• Driving Proficiency
• Joint Authorisation
• Incentivising vehicle choices and accessibility provision
• Pedicabs and rickshaws
• Mandating CCTV in vehicles
• The risks associated with the testing requirements and frequency
• The continued negative impacts of licence shopping on the authority’s ability to devise local best practice

·       To approve the move to daily DBS checks on all our licensed drivers in the interests of public safety.

·       To approve the removal of the forward facing VPIS application requirement and fee.

A coloured example of the proposed door sticker for display on Private Hire Vehicles was provided to members during their consideration of the report.

There was a discussion about the proposal to remove the requirement for licensed vehicles to carry fire extinguishers and first aid kits. A member suggested that the proposal be reviewed in consultation with the Trade. It was subsequently clarified that the Authority was not seeking to prevent drivers from carrying the items should they choose to do so and instead was a removal of the requirement that they should do so. Having taken the advice from the Fire Service, it was explained that in the circumstances of a vehicle fire the safest course of action for drivers and passengers was to remove themselves from the vehicle as quickly as possible and move to a safe distance and allow the Fire Service to deal with the fire. It was also explained that were the Authority to continue to require drivers to carry an extinguisher and a driver subsequently became injured as a result of fighting a fire, the Authority could in theory be deemed liable as a result of requiring them to carry the items and take those measures. Adopting this proposal would therefore facilitate the Authority aligning wit the approach taken with other Greater Manchester Authorities.

After careful consideration, the Committee agreed the proposals, with the exception of recommendation 5 regarding the requirement to carry fire extinguishers and first aid kits and agree that officers should consult with the trade on next steps before taking any further action.

Decision

1.    To instruct officers to consult on updating the Private Hire Operator Conditions to include:
• The disability awareness training requirement
• The accessibility requirement of booking platforms

2.    To instruct officers to consult with the trade on
• Vehicle Age Policy; and
• NCAP ratings

3.    To remove the current tint requirement for rear passenger windows in the private hire vehicles policy with immediate effect and replace it with the following:
a) Front windscreen – min. 75% light transmission
b) Front side door glass – min. 70% light transmission
c) Rear door glass - min. 30% light transmission
d) Rear window – manufacturer’s tint

4.    To approve the Private Hire door sticker design to replace the bonnet sticker requirement

5.    To request that officers consult with the trade regarding the proposal to remove the requirement for licensed vehicles to carry fire extinguishers and first aid kits

6.    To request Officers to respond to the City of Wolverhampton public consultation on behalf of the Licensing Authority .

7.    To request officers to provide a written response to the DfT on the following areas of the Guidance:
• Driving Proficiency
• Joint Authorisation
• Incentivising vehicle choices and accessibility provision
• Pedicabs and rickshaws
• Mandating CCTV in vehicles
• The risks associated with the testing requirements and frequency
• The continued negative impacts of licence shopping on the authority’s ability to devise local best practice

8.    To approve the move to daily DBS checks on all our licensed drivers in the interests of public safety.

9.    To approve the removal of the forward facing VPIS application requirement and fee.