Issue - meetings

Following the formation of BCP Council we currently have three legacy authority policies covering the BCP Council area. These policies are vastly different and in need of updating. In order to properly protect passengers and other road users it is proposed to create one new BCP taxi and private hire policy which will be separated into three main categories, drivers, vehicles and operators. Each category will have its own bespoke policy which will be reviewed every five years. The fees charged for the administration of this service will also be harmonised and reviewed under a separate report at a later date to coincide with the implementation of the new policies.

The Licensing Manager presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'B' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

There were currently three legacy taxi and private hire policies covering the BCP Council area, which were all different and in need of updating. In order to properly protect passengers and other road users it was proposed to create one new ‘fit for purpose’ BCP taxi and private hire policy for the Council to use in its operation and decision making. The Committee was asked to consider how it wished to input into the development of the policy.

The Licensing Manager explained that it was intended to separate this work into three main categories, for drivers, vehicles and operators, with each category having its own bespoke policy which would be reviewed every five years. It was noted that the fees charged for the administration of this service would also be harmonised and reviewed under a separate report at a later date to coincide with the implementation of the new policies.

The Committee agreed that it would be useful to set up a working party of councillors to work with Officers and the Taxi Trade to help formulate the policy. The Committee talked about the need to set parameters for the working group including an end date from which to work back from. The Licensing Manager advised that the final policy was intended to be in place by the end of November 2020. She explained that some preparatory work was already underway, including discussions with the Taxi Trade. It was noted that relevant taxi legislation and guidance would have considerable bearing on what the new policy looked like. It was anticipated that the work would take around four months, including a period of public consultation, and that a timetable for adoption by full Council would need to be factored in.

The Committee agreed that it would be helpful to include a cross section of Committee members in the working group, ideally with a mix of experienced and new members from across the Council area. The Committee felt that no more than five members was an expedient number for this type of work.

RESOLVED that the new Taxi and Private Hire policy documents be drafted as detailed in the report and a Working Party be established to help formulate the policy, with a membership of Cllrs J Butt, G Farquhar, D Flagg, T Johnson and D Kelsey.

Voting: Unanimous