Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor M J Ford, JP and Councillor N Gregory.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 26 June 2023.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing & Regulatory Affairs Committee held on 26 June 2023 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Panel held on 05 July 2023.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Panel held on 05 July 2023 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Panel held on Wednesday 02 August 2023.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Panel held on Wednesday, 02 August 2023 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

The Chairman thanked the Committee for attending the recent licensing training and reminded members that it is important that annual training is undertaken in order that they are able to sit on Licensing Panel hearings when called upon to do so.

To receive any declarations of interest from members in accordance with Standing Orders and the Council’s Code of Conduct.

There were no declarations of interest made at this meeting.

To receive any deputations of which notice has been lodged.

There were no deputations made at this meeting.

To consider a report by the Head of Environmental Health which reviews the Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards in respect of CCTV.

The Committee considered a report by the Head of Environmental Health which reviewed the statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards in respect of CCTV.

During the discussion and debate of this item, the Committee noted its responsibility for the safety of taxi drivers as well as members of the public. Concern was raised that the proposed date by which existing Taxi and Private Hire vehicles must be fitted with CCTV equipment was not soon enough.

Concern was also raised that for many taxi drivers, the cost of installing the equipment might not be affordable.  It was suggested that as this is an initiative that has been brought forward by the Police and Crime Commissioner, she may be willing to make funding available for those taxi drivers who are unable to meet the cost.

An amendment to the recommendation was proposed by Councillor Mrs S M Walker, and seconded by Councillor Mrs S M Bayford, that at recommendation (b) all existing Taxi and Private Hire vehicles must be fitted with CCTV equipment by 31 December 2024 and that an additional recommendation (c) be added that the Council write to the Police and Crime Commissioner to see if funding can be made available to help those drivers who are unable to meet the installation costs.

On being put to the vote, recommendation (a) was carried unanimously.  The proposed revised recommendation (b) was carried with 10 members voting in favour and 1 voting against.  The proposed additional recommendation (c) and recommendation (d) were carried unanimously.

RESOLVED that the Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Committee agrees that the following amendments be made to the Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Conditions of Licensing:

(a)  that Taxi and Private Hire vehicles plated for the first time are required to be fitted with an approved CCTV system;

(b)  that existing Taxi and Private Hire vehicles are required to be fitted with an approved CCTV system by 31 December 2024;

(c)  that the Council write to the Police and Crime Commissioner to see whether funding can be made available to those taxi drivers who are unable to meet the cost of installing CCTV equipment; and

(d)  that the Head of Environmental Health be given the delegated Authority to determine the CCTV specification that would need to be met for a system to be approved.