Agenda and draft minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Mr Scott Day (South Sefton Hackney Carriage Association), Mr Trevor Jones (North West Taxi Association) and Mr Frank West (Learning Curve Group).

Minutes of the Meeting held on 25 January 2022

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 25 January 2022 be confirmed as the correct record.

Members are requested at a meeting where a disclosable pecuniary interest or personal interest arises, which is not already included in their Register of Members' Interests, todeclare any interests that relate to an item on the agenda.

Where a Member discloses a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest, he/she must withdraw from the meeting room, including from the public gallery, during the whole consideration of any item of business in which he/she has an interest, except where he/she is permitted to remain as a result of a grant of a dispensation.

Where a Member discloses a personal interest he/she must seek advice from the Monitoring Officer or staff member representing the Monitoring Officer to determine whether the Member should withdraw from the meeting room, including from the public gallery, during the whole consideration of any item of business in which he/she has an interest or whether the Member can remain in the meeting or remain in the meeting and vote on the relevant decision.

No declarations of any disclosable pecuniary interests or personal interests were received.

Verbal Update by the Principal Officer, Licensing

The meeting considered a verbal update from Mr Mark Toohey, Principal Licensing Officer, who informed the Committee of the following statistics regarding Driver applications:

·       3963 Driver Renewals processed

·       4721 Vehicle Plates processed

·       2071 new Vehicle Plates

·       492 New Drivers Licensed

·       232 New Drivers waiting to be checked

The meeting was also informed that applications for renewals were being processed within a 48-hour turnaround and 5,200 emails had been received between September 2021 and July 2022 which were being processed in date order. As of 19^th January 2023, 4,600 applications had been processed with 1,400 outstanding new driver applications. 18 months work of backlog had been cleared within a 5-month time period and the rest of the backlog was expected to be cleared by May 2023.

RESOLVED:

That the update be noted.

Verbal Update by the Principal Officer, Licensing

The meeting received a verbal update from Mark Toohey, Principal Licensing Officer, who informed the Committee that representatives from the One Stop Shop were unable to attend the meeting but had offered to meet with Members of the trade on the week commencing 6^th of February to discuss new driver applications. The meeting was also informed that Knowledge Tests had re-commenced at the One Stop Shop and pass rates were around 50% from 250 tests.

RESOLVED:

That the verbal update be noted.

Verbal Update by the Principal Officer, Licensing

The meeting considered a verbal update from Mark Toohey, Principal Licensing Officer, who advised that following the reintroduction of Taxi Licensing facilities at The Atkinson, Lord Street, Southport, PR8 1DB, there had been poor take-up of the appointment system.  It was proposed that the service should be suspended, and resources re-allocated to assist with the backlog of new driver licence applications and that this would be reviewed in a few months’ time.

Arising from discussion, a matter regarding Southport drivers using Southport facilities was raised. Mark Toohey, Principal Licensing Officer indicated that due to the drop-in service at the Bootle One Stop Shop drivers were more likely to attend there for applications as opposed to booking appointments in Southport.

RESOLVED:

That the verbal update be noted.

Verbal Update by the Principal Officer, Licensing

The meeting received a verbal update from Mark Toohey, Principal Licensing Officer who advised that new training packages were being explored in conjunction with partners in the Liverpool City Region. A New Convictions Policy and Statutory Handbook would also need to be sent out for consultation.

Matthew Freckelton[PF1]  (UBER) enquired about timescales for the consultation and Mr Toohey indicated that it iwas hoped that the relevant documents would be sent out for consultation as soon as possible.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

To note that the next meeting of the Licensing and Regulatory Committee Spokespersons with Representatives from the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Trades will be held at 10.30 am on Tuesday 23 January 2024.

Venue to be confirmed.

RESOLVED:

That it be noted that the next annual meeting of the Licensing Regulatory Committee Spokespersons with Representatives from the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Trades will be held at 10:30am on Tuesday 23^rd January 2024.