Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Gibbons.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the above meeting, having been circulated, be approved as a correct record.

None.

None.

Consideration was given to a report of the Head of Environment, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting, informing Members of the introduction of the Taxi and Private Hire Vehicles (Disabled Persons) Act 2022 (the ‘2022 Act’), which amends the Equality Act 2010 (the ‘2010 Act’), by amending existing duties, and placing new duties on local licensing authorities (‘LLA’), drivers of both taxis and private hire vehicles and private hire operators.

The report also sought to:

1)     Update Members on the requirement for LLAs to maintain and publish a list of designated wheelchair accessible vehicles (‘WAV’) under s.167 of the 2010 Act;

2)     Seek approval to amend the Gedling Borough Council Statement of Policy and Guidelines for the Licensing of Hackney Carriage Drivers, Private Hire Drivers and Private Hire Operators to incorporate information regarding these duties; and

3)     Seek approval to delegate all functions and responsibilities under the 2022 Act and any regulations made there under, to the Chief Executive.

RESOVLED to:

1)     Approve the amendments to the Gedling Borough Council Statement of Policy and Guidelines for the Licensing of Hackney Carriage Drivers, Private Hire Drivers and Private Hire Operators to incorporate information regarding these duties, found at Appendix 1 of the report;

2)     Note the amendment to s.166 of the 2010 Act and the legal obligation on the Council to maintain and publish a list of designated wheelchair accessible vehicles; and

3)     Delegate all functions and responsibilities under the 2022 Act and any regulations made there under, to the Chief Executive.

Report of Head of Environment

Consideration was given to a report of the Head of Environment, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting, asking Members to consider a request from Nottingham Green Cars Ltd to allow a vinyl wrap vehicle livery design to be applied to Gedling Borough Council (GBC) licenced Hackney Carriages working on their fleet.

RESOLVED:

That, the request to apply a vinyl wrap vehicle livery design, as seen in vehicle images in Appendix A to the report, to GBC licensed Hackney Carriages, be approved, subject to spell checks from the GBC licencing department.

To move that under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public and press be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the ensuing report on the grounds that the report involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

RESOLVED:

That, the Members being satisfied that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information that under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the ensuing reports on the grounds that the report involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

Consideration was given to a report of the Head of Environment, which had been circulated prior to the meeting, regarding an application for a one year joint Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver’s Licence for AL.

AL attended the meeting and addressed the Committee.

In making the decision the Committee applied the Council’s approved Policy and Guidelines.

RESOLVED to:

Approve AL’s application for a one year Joint Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver’s Licence.

Consideration was given to a report of the Head of Environment, which had been circulated prior to the meeting, regarding an application for a three year joint Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver’s Licence for MR.

MR attended the meeting along with a friend and they both addressed the Committee.

RESOLVED:

To adjourn the meeting and defer the decision of the application for a three year Joint Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver’s Licence to a future meeting to allow officers to seek further information.

Councillor Smith left the meeting.

Consideration was given to a report of the Head of Environment, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting, regarding a change of circumstances following information received about the holder of a Joint Hackney Carriage/ Private Hire Driver’s Licence.

AD attended the meeting and addressed the Committee.

In making the decision the Committee applied the Council’s approved Policy and Guidelines. 

RESOLVED:

Issue a warning to AD to ensure his vehicle is kept to a road worthy standard and conducts regular inspections.