Meeting documents

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Ms Bell, K Jones,?Mrs Nathan and Marsh.

There were no declarations of interest declared.

RESOLVED (UNANIMOUS): that the minutes of the meeting held on 17?January?2017 be approved as a correct record and signed by the chairman.

(During the course of the meeting Councillor Watts placed on record his thanks to the chairman and the officers involved for their help in the organisation of the Taxi Licensing Event held earlier in the day. The event was enlightening and of much importance. The committee was pleased to note that two of the key speakers acknowledged that this Council had heard most of the details presented.)

Further to minute no. 28 (22 November 2016), a letter was sent on 21 December 2016 to all 267 Private Hire and Hackney Carriage drivers currently licensed with the authority, advising them of the period of consultation and how to access a copy of the proposed policy. On 22 December 2016, a similar e-mail was sent to all private hire operators currently licensed with the authority.

The 4 week period of consultation had closed on 20 January 2017 and there were no responses received from licensed drivers or licensed operators.

In the light of this, the committee was now asked to adopt the proposed new Convictions Policy and to agree to refer it to full Council on 1 March 2017 for endorsement.

The committee was also advised that the Council would need to respond to emergency intelligence (eg when information was received that required urgent action against a driver (Standing Order No. 38 under the Council?s Constitution)). In such circumstances, a meeting?would be convened in accordance with the process set out in Appendix 2 to the report. The committee was also asked to note this process and agree to adopt it in such circumstances.

RESOLVED (UNANIMOUS): that ?

1. the expiration of the 4 week consultation period be noted;

2. the revised Convictions Policy (Appendix 1 to the report) be approved in so far as this committee is concerned to enable its adoption for use in considering whether drivers / applicants meet the statutory ?fit and proper? test;

3. it be recommended to full Council at its meeting on 1 March 2017 that the revised Convictions Policy (Appendix 1 to the report) be adopted; and

4. the internal protocol under Standing Order 38 in relation to emergency action in relation to the statutory ?fit and proper? test be approved.

The committee considered a report on the benefits of the proposed adoption of a formal work programme for the committee (Appendix 1 to the report).

The committee had not had a formal work programme which set out a schedule of reports to be received and acknowledged the importance of key aspects such as member training.

The adoption of a Forward Plan would support the work of the committee in a number of ways:

? the production of a formal work programme would give members a clearer understanding of their role, remit and responsibilities

? corporate and statutory timescales (eg relating to the finalising of fees and charges) would be identified and therefore incorporated into officers? work programmes

? officers would have a clear focus on work they are expected to produce, being able to better plan their workload to meet identified dates/targets

Although clearly linking certain workstreams to committee dates, it was intended that the Forward Pan was flexible and may be added to/amended any time of the year. It was, in essence, a working document.

The draft Forward Plan acknowledged that certain items would be classed as ?standing? and would appear on all agendas as appropriate. These standing items were itemised at the top of the draft Forward Plan. Other issues (such as the Gambling Policy) had been identified but further work was required to establish when they should next be presented to the committee.

RESOLVED (UNANIMOUS): that ?

1. the proposed Forward Plan (Appendix 1 to the report) be noted; and

2. the contents of the Plan be approved as the basis for a formal work programme for the committee during 2017/18.