Agenda and minutes

Councillor Ann Bowen Morgan apologised for her inability to attend the meeting.

None.

It was RESOLVED to confirm as a true record the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on the 21 March 2024.

Matters arsing

None.

Consideration was given to the General Update report which updated Members on the work of the Licensing Team in relation to its other functions that sit under the non-statutory licensing committee. A brief updated was provided on the National Licensing Week 2024 (10-14 June 2024) and Licensing Hearings.

It was AGREED to note the report for information.

Consideration was given to the Review of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy -   Insurance Write Offs (Salvaged Vehicles). The report had been presented to inform Members of the Committee of the intention to review

     the current Hackney Carriage and Public Hire vehicle policy, with a view to including, a policy on dealing with requests to licence and re-licence insurance ‘write-off’ category vehicles.

    Following questions from the floor, it was AGREED

    (i)to include a policy on licensing Insurance ‘write off’ vehicles in the Ceredigion County Council Hackney and Private Hire vehicle policy; and

    (ii) that the Licensing Team conducts an 8-week consultation and then reports

    back to this Committee

Consideration was given to the report upon the Revision of Hackney Carriage (Taxi) and Private Hire Vehicles, Drivers and Operators Policies. The report had been presented to approve a public consultation on the proposed changes to the Hackney Carriage (Taxi) & Private Hire Vehicles, Drivers & Operators Policy.

The subject matters that need consulting upon and proposed revisions include the following:

• A 6 monthly DBS requirement for drivers (DBS to be specifically for the role of a taxi / private hire vehicle driver)
• Basic disclosure requirement for vehicle proprietors.
• Licensee self-reporting requirements,
• Holders of Private Hire Vehicle Operator licences to undertake basic disclosures of staff who have access to booking records or dispatch vehicles.
• Overseas Criminal Record Checks for applicants for Vehicle Licences & private hire vehicle operator’s licence.
• Group 2 Medical undertaken by the applicant’s own general practitioner (GP) or another GP at the applicant’s registered practice that has full access to their medical records. (In exceptional circumstances, and only with prior agreement from the Licensing authority, a medical assessment may be carried out by another registered GP practice as long as the applicant’s full medical history has been viewed and assessed by that GP.)
• Group 2 Medical to be required as follows: Upon application, every 5 years between the ages of 45 and 65. Every year when the driver is aged 65 years or over, or anytime as required by the licensing authority or the medical practitioner.
• The medical will be valid for 4 months from the date the examining doctor, optician or optometrist signs it.
• requirements placed on proprietors of Wheel Chair Accessible vehicles to ensure drivers can assist a passenger in a wheelchair into and out of the vehicle and correctly secure the wheelchair in the vehicle,
• cross border enforcement, etc.

Following questions from the floor, it was AGREED

(i) to approve the comments in relation to the changes to the council’s policy for Hackney carriage / Private hire drivers, Vehicle proprietors and Private Hire Vehicle Operator; and

(ii)that the draft revised Policy go out to public consultation. Any relevant comments or objections to the content would come back to this committee after the consultation period for consideration