Agenda and minutes

Christopher Ward, Licensing Manager welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Notes of the last meeting attached.

The notes of the last meeting of the Forum held on 28 June 2022 were circulated for information.

The Licensing Manager gave an update as to the CCTV policy. He explained that the consultation with the trade had just closed at the end of November, however he stressed that responses were still being accepted.

He also mentioned that a four week public consultation was still ongoing.

He indicated that the consultation responses from the taxi trade and the public would then be collated and the evidence presented to the Committee on 16 January 2023.

One comment made by a representative of the trade was that the Council should amend its policy on tinted glass in windows to allow for an appropriate level of tint.

The Licensing Manager explained that in his view it is up to the Hackney Carriage trade to raise the matter / make requests for an increase in fares as and when they feel appropriate. He said that such requests were not currently being made to the licensing team however if they were officers would look at it and present to the Committee to consider.

One of the representatives of the trade argued that some of the drivers he had spoken to had raised the issue and that by having an annual review, it provided the opportunity to ensure that driver fares do not fall behind as they have done in previous years.

The Forum agreed that the taxi trade had changed considerably since the pandemic and there was a shortage of drivers.

The Licensing Manager also made the point that the Council would be in a difficult position if it looked to increase fares without the consent of the trade, and would be unable to justify it to the public, potentially being cause for a judicial review. He reiterated that the Council would respond to requests from the trade.

A representative of the taxi trade raised the issue of the length of the process to obtain a licence. In one instance the process had taken 5 months.

The Licensing Manager explained that some aspects of the process e.g. HMRC checks are mandatory, however his team were looking at ways to make other aspects of the process more efficient.

He said that a new Head of Customer Services was now in post, training provided for new staff and improvements were being made to the appointments process. An applicant could turn up in the Civic Centre to book an appointment or have the option to wait for a licensing officer. He also said that any complaints about Gateway staff should refer to the name of the staff member.

The other key issue was the period of time to get booked on the mandatory course to obtain a qualification. Courses kept being cancelled. The Licensing Manger explained that he spoken to the course teacher at Blackburn College and there needed to be a minimum of 10 students on the course to make it viable. He was therefore looking at alternative course providers such as Hyndburn College and Rossendale College.

To assist speeding up the process it was suggested introducing a grace period for passing the course following the grant of a licence  (e.g. 3 months).

The Licensing Manager would look at these issues following the CCTV report going to Committee on 16 January 2023.

The Licensing Manager explained that the although the matter had been approved at Committee the delay for the reintroduction of the twelve month licence plate was due to waiting for the licensing database software, IDOX, to be set up. The 12 month plate would be coming in as soon as possible.

The Licensing Manager informed the Forum of an email he had just received from Lancashire County Council regarding public vehicle lanes and penalty charge notices. They are now requesting that taxi drivers provide evidence of their licence within 5 working days of receiving a PCN.

Justin Abbotts explained that the licensing team usually send them a list of licensed vehicles. The new procedure seems very inefficient in comparison, so the licensing team have queried this with LCC.

To be held on Tuesday, 21 March 2023 at 6.00pm in the Civic Centre, Leyland.

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, 21 March 2023 at 6.00pm in the Civic Centre, Leyland.