Apologies for absence were received from Councillors A Grey and Wainwright.

There were no declarations of interest declared at the meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on the 9 April 2018 were confirmed.

Members received and considered the Licensing and Elections Manager's report which presented a review of the current taxi licensing policy that had been undertaken to incorporate proposed amendments to existing procedure. The report asked Members to consider the draft policy and agree to a six week consultation on the proposed changes.

In discussing the report the following issues were discussed :-

• Whether a charge would be imposed to drivers for undertaking the required safeguarding training, the Licensing and Elections Manager reported that this charge would be approximately £15-£20 for new drivers, and that existing drivers could be provided training at a slightly cheaper rate if delivered in bulk and that this would be a one off payment.
• Some concern was raised in relation to the proposed charge for the training, as it was felt this fee should be subsidised if training was to be a mandatory requirement of the Council.
• Clarification was sought as to how other Authorities delivered the training and whether a cost was imposed, the Licensing and Elections Manager reported that some Local Authorities provided the training to existing drivers free of charge but that the cost was payable by new drivers. The Licensing and Elections Manager suggested that full costings of the training be brought back to the Committee at a future meeting.
• Clarification was sought as to whether specific garages were nominated for services and works that needed to be undertaken on taxis, this was confirmed.
• Reference was made to electric cars and whether these should be included within the revised policy. The Licensing and Elections Manager stated that she would look into this matter.
• A Member asked whether a certificate would be issued to prove training had been undertaken, this was confirmed.
• Members discussed the use of generic certificates for all cars as proof training had been undertaken.
• Reference was made to the ' lost property ' section within the report, as it was pointed out that the police station no longer accept lost property.
• A Member referred to private hire vehicles, the solicitor nplaw, advised that the Borough Council did not have control of the fares charged by Private Hire Vehicles only Hackney Carriage Drivers.

The Licensing and Elections Manager reported that the policy following consultation would be brought back to the Committee for final approval.

There was no other business determined  by the Chairman of the meeting as being of sufficient urgency to warrant consideration. 

RESOLVED :

"That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 12(A) of the said Act."