LICENSING COMMITTEE AGENDA - Hartlepool Borough Council

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Licensing Committee – 6 th November 2012 4.1 LICENSING COMMITTEE 6 th November 2012 Report of: Assistant Director (Regeneration & Planning) Subject: ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR TAXI DRIVERS 1. PURPOSE OF REPORT 1.1 To consider whether all licensed hackney carriage and private hire drivers should be required to undertake an assessment of their driving ability. 2. BACKGROUND 2.1 On 19th January 2011 the Licensing Committee determined that new applicants for hackney carriage and private hire licences should be required to undertake and pass the Driving Standards Agency Taxi Test before a licence could be issued – bringing Hartlepool’s policy into line with those of the other Tees Valley licensing authorities. 2.2 Existing drivers who have accumulated nine or more penalty points on their DVLA drivers licence are referred to a licensing sub-committee where their fitness to continue to hold a licence is re-assessed. 2.3 On such occasions, sub-committees are advised that, if considered appropriate, drivers could be required to pass the Driving Standards Agency Taxi Test or to undertake the Council’s Driver Improvement Scheme. 2.4 The Driving Standards Agency Taxi Test currently costs £79 and results in either a pass or fail for the driver. The Driver Improvement Scheme is offered by Hartlepool Borough Council’s Road Safety Team at a cost of approximately £150 and consists of a full day assessment and training but does not result in a pass or fail. A brief summary of the DSA Test is available as Appendix 1. A brief summary of the Driver Improvement Scheme is available as Appendix 2. 2.5 A Licensing Sub-Committee has asked that the Licensing Committee be given the opportunity to discuss whether it would be appropriate for all current licensed hackney carriage and private hire drivers to undertake one or both of the above tests as an additional assessment of their fitness to hold a drivers licence. 4.1 Licensing 12.11.06 Additional requirements for taxi drivers HARTLEPOOL BOROUGH COUNCIL 1
Licensing Committee – 6 th November 2012 4.1 3. ISSUES 3.1 With the exception of the recent requirement to pass the Driving Standards Agency Taxi Test, the application process for drivers has remained the same for many years and consists of: - • Payment of the appropriate fee (currently £67 for a one year licence) • Production of a full DVLA drivers licence (held for at least 12 months) • Production of a certificate, on a form approved by the Council, that is signed by the applicant’s own GP or alternative GP who has access to his/her medical history to the effect that s/he is medically fit to be the driver of a hackney carriage/private hire vehicle to a standard as required by the Council. The medical certificate shall confirm the satisfactory attainment of the current standards set by the DVLA as being appropriate for hackney carriage/private hire vehicle drivers, or in the absence of such, Class II LGV/PC V. The medical certificate will be valid for the period stipulated by the Council or Medical Practitioner where different. The cost of obtaining a completed medical certificate shall be borne by the applicant (this cost is determined by the applicant’s doctor but can vary from around £80 to £150) • Production of an Enhanced Disclosure from the Criminal Records Bureau. Such a disclosure must be obtained for the exclusive purpose of assisting the Council with its licensing decision, unless indicated otherwise by the Council, and have been obtained through an authorised officer of the Council. Members will be aware that this requirement was temporarily reduced to a ‘Standard’ CRB disclosure due to legislative changes in 2011/12. • Satisfactory completion of an examination prepared and administered by the Council that will cover areas including, but not necessarily limited to: - i. Relevant legislation ii. Locations iii. Routes iv. Disability awareness v. Highway Code Such an examination must be undertaken by each applicant without assistance from any other party. Applicants for Private Hire or Hackney Carriage drivers licences must pass the knowledge test within five attempts. Should an applicant fail 4.1 Licensing 12.11.06 Additional requirements for taxi drivers HARTLEPOOL BOROUGH COUNCIL 2
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LICENSING COMMITTEE AGENDA - Hartlepool Borough Council

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