Agenda item

Report of the Director of Planning and Development attached.

The Interim Licensing Team Leader presented a report of the Director of Planning and Development which sought to inform members about the recent request from South Ribble licenced operators for a single use/ restricted Private Hire (PVH) licence.

The Interim Licensing Team Leader explained that he had been contacted by several operators who had requested aspects of the licence such as the local knowledge test, be removed as they were struggling to employ PVH drivers due to the requirements for the licence. The requests had been received from operators who solely perform school contract work outside of the borough or worked predominantly outside of the borough, for example airport collection and drop offs.

A representative from 24/7 Ltd addressed the committee and explained that they had been struggling to employ drivers since they started in Lancashire in March 2020 due to the local area knowledge tests in place. The representative explained that the business was based within South Ribble and they would like to keep the business within the borough. It was provided that a lot of the school work was contracted through Lancashire County Council (LCC) and drivers were mainly collecting children to take them out of the borough to their school.

The representative explained to committee that they had requested a single use licence and asked for the local area knowledge test to be removed. They were struggling to employ drivers to do this work. The representative advised that they only undertook school contract work, with drivers working 190 days a year doing pre-contracted school or respite work.

Another operator addressed the committee and stated that he had operated his business for 17 years and only undertook airport transfers. They had been advertising for drivers since July and had not been able to employ a single driver due to the requirements in place for obtaining a PVH licence. The operator explained that drivers had to undertake numerous tests in order to be a granted yet many other trades did not. He explained that he had applied to renew his licence in July and had received his clear police check in October, he then undertook the Child Exploitation (CSE) test at the council in October and was told he would get the result of his test. The operator advised that he had still not received his result from the council, he went on to explain that if nothing changed his business would be forced to cease trading.

In response to a member enquiry, the Interim Licensing Team Leader explained that additional signage could be implemented should the single use licence be accepted, ensuring that members of the public would be able to distinguish the difference between a PVH and a restricted PVH.

Members requested further details on the pass rate for the local area knowledge test. The Interim Licensing Team Leader explained that he would provide this outside of the meeting.Members accepted that there was a national shortage of drivers and discussed the use of technology, how this could assist drivers and the drawbacks should the technology fail

Members considered the three options within the report and agreed to start consultation for all with signage for restricted use licences being included.

Resolved: (By Majority)

For: Councillors Flannery, Alty, Forrest, Martin, Mullineaux, Sharples and Watson

Abstain: Councillor Ogilvie

1.    That the report be noted.

2.    Committee considered the proposed request for a single use/restricted private hire licence.

3.    Committee agree that the licensing section undertake a consultation exercise with stakeholders on the proposed changes to the Taxi Licensing Policy.

4.    The committee agree to receive a report on the outcome of the consultation exercise at a future meeting.