Agenda and minutes

Members are requested to advise the Democratic Services Officer of any apologies for this meeting.

Councillors Dewhurst, Holland, Hurst and Merrett.

The minutes of the meeting held on 9 July 2021 are attached.

The minutes of the meeting held on 9 July 2021 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Committee considered a report of the Director – Environment, Paul Barton, presented by Licensing Manager, Joanne Brockley, which advised Members of the Stage 1 recommendations in relation to the Greater Manchester Minimum Licensing Standards for Hackney Carriage (Taxis) and Private Hire Licensing.

Stage 1 of the Minimum Licensing Standards referred to drivers, operators and local authorities and the approach stood to benefit drivers and the trade more widely, as public confidence in a well-regulated service grew.

Some of the key areas included in the Committee’s discussions were:

·       costing implications for drivers;

·       concerns about driving proficiency tests;

·       the requirement of an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) test; and

·       the reasoning for drug and alcohol tests.

The Licensing Manager informed the Committee that whilst there would be a costing implication for new drivers, some of these costs were already in place and wouldn’t apply to existing drivers. Although drivers had undertaken standard driving tests, it was common practice for enhanced testing to take place, as drivers were transporting members of the public.

The Licensing Manager advised Members that the intention in relation to drug and alcohol testing was to develop a policy that would be presented to Committee for approval at a later date.

Resolved: The Committee:-

(1)        thanks the officer for the report;

(2)        notes the content of the report and the Statutory Standards recommended; and

(3)        approves the proposals as outlined in the report.