Agenda item

Report of the Head of Environmental Services

 

This report asks that officers implement the proposals in Action Plan.

The Committee received a report of the Head of Environmental Services outlining the proposed measures in the action plan.

 

The Licensing Manager introduced the report and described the consultation that had taken place. He introduced each of the twelve actions which were then discussed by the Committee for agreement. The officer reported that there was a typographical error in the report in recommendation 2.4, the word “less” should read “more”.

 

2. Upper age limits for Hackney Carriages

The Licensing Manager informed the Committee that the proposal was to introduce an upper age limit of 13 years for cars and 15 years for purpose-built London-style cabs. The drivers would prefer to see an upper age of 20 years but only 13 percent of vehicles were 10 years old or more. In London, the upper age limit was 15 years unless there were exceptional circumstances.

 

A Member noted that London Hackney Carriages did a lot more mileage than those in Watford and manufacturers’ standards had improved over the years.

 

A further Member said that as well as being mechanically sound, the quality of the interior for the passenger was also important.

 

The Chair expressed her view that 13 years was an appropriate upper age limit for cars but that London-style cabs were designed to take a lot of passengers and so 20 years would be an acceptable upper limit for these vehicles.

 

Another Member suggested that 15 years should be the upper limit for cars and 20 years should be the upper limit for London-style cabs.

 

A Member said he felt that notice should be taken of the upper limits in London where there was considerable expertise in setting limits. And the officers’ recommendation should stand.

 

The Chair noted that Watford Hackney Carriages were less used and were very expensive to purchase. Saloon cars deteriorated more quickly.

 

The Chair invited the Committee to vote on the following three options:

Option 1. An upper age limit of 13 years for saloon cars and 20 years for London-style cabs be introduced.

Option 2. An upper age limit of 13 years for saloon cars and 15 years for London-style cabs be introduced.

Option 3. An upper limit of 15 years for saloon cars and 20 years for London-style cabs be introduced.

 

On being put to the Committee Option 1, that an upper age limit of 13 years for saloon cars and 20 years for London-style cabs be introduced, was AGREED.

 

3. Review taxi fares

The Licensing Manager said that the proposal was to review fares at the end of 2012 and during 2014. The trade had suggested a minimum fare of £5. A debate over this would take place when the fares were reviewed.

 

A Councillor asked that when fares were reviewed that the question of minimum fares at night be included.

 

5. Review taxi rank provision

The Licensing Manager reported that a review had just been finished and if there was an opportunity to have a taxi rank in the new Charter Place development this should be pursued. New ranks were now in place outside Barclays Bank at night, the High Street Station and in the Harebreaks carpark.  The proposal was to review taxi rank provision in 2015.

 

One Member commented that he had never seen any taxis at the new rank in the Harebreaks. The Licensing Manager responded that this was a new location that had been requested by the trade and there was still some further signage waiting to be installed.

 

6. Introduce refresher training

The Licensing Manager reported that the refresher courses would be compulsory to attend every two licence renewals (every six years). The courses would include customer service, disability awareness and information about new roads in the Borough.

 

In response to a question from a Member, the Licensing Manager said that Licensing used a specialist disability trainer for their courses and they had had an offer of help from Disability Watford.

 

7. DVLA penalty points

The Licensing Manager reported that currently if a driver received nine or more points on their DVLA licence they were required to retake the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) test. The proposal was to reduce this to six or more points. He referred to the practices of other councils outlined in the Licensing statistics document.

 

One Member stated that for most drivers the limit was 12 points and taxi drivers drove for a much larger part of their day than most people. If their licence was revoked this would remove their livelihood. He asked what the reason was for the change.

 

The Licensing Manager responded that there were an increasing number of drivers who had nine or more points. He added that points were generally not just for speeding but also for using a mobile phone whilst driving, insurance offences and problems with the condition of vehicles. He outlined the difference between the DVLA licence and the Watford Hackney Carriage licence which could gain points for parking and other offences. He explained that many offences attracted three points and allowing drivers six points gave them a second chance. It also gave them an earlier warning before they reached 12 points than nine points would.

 

A Member proposed that Watford adopt the approach taken by another council in the licensing statistics where the test had to be retaken if a driver gained six points in one year and nine in three years.

 

The Legal and Democratic Section Head commented that, in his view, the change proposed was not so significant as to require further consultation.

 

A Member underlined the importance of public safety and proposed that the officers’ recommendations be put to the Committee.

 

The Chair invited the Committee to vote on the following two options:

Option 1. The DSA test be retaken after a driver has six or more points

Option 2. The DSA be retaken after a driver has accrued six points in a year or nine points in three years.

 

On being put to the Committee Option 1, that the DSA test be retaken after a driver has six or more points, was AGREED.

 

9. Introduce promotion and/or accreditation

The Licensing Manager said that the finer details of any scheme were still to be finalised. He suggested that drivers could be rewarded by less extensive examinations. Any scheme would be met from existing budgets.

 

The Vice Chair noted that if there was a ‘stars on the cars’ scheme, passengers did not have a choice of taxi at the rank.  They could therefore not make use of the scheme.

 

The Chair suggested that ‘driver of the year’ could be incorporated in to the Audentior Awards.

 

This recommendation was AGREED and the Committee asked for a more detailed proposal.

 

10. Economic development

The Licensing Manager said it was proposed that the Council’s Economic Development Officer work with drivers to develop new business opportunities. In response to Members’ questions he explained that this was about helping them to develop skills and to maximise their potential, for example establishing a limited company rather than being a sole trader. This would not be compulsory for drivers.

 

12. Written receipts

The Licensing Manager said that this was a requirement for drivers to offer a written receipt at the end of a journey. This would amend the conditions of the licences. If this was not effective, a meter which printed receipts could be introduced however these were expensive.

 

A Member commented that this was very useful and he was aware of occasions where passengers felt too intimidated to ask for a receipt. The receipts would allow the drivers to be identified.

 

This recommendation was AGREED.

 

RESOLVED –

 

1. That officers implement the proposals in the Action Plan as summarised at paragraph 3.21 of this report and as amended by the Licensing Committee.

 

2. That hackney carriage vehicle and private hire vehicle licences be amended to include the following condition:

 

“The holder of this licence shall ensure that the driver of the vehicle offers to each passenger (or, if there are more than one passengers, at least one of those passengers) at the termination of their journey a receipt which shall contain at the least the following information:

(1)  the date
(2)  the fare for that journey
(3)  the number of the badge issued by Watford Borough Council to that driver

                   (4)  other information that may be specified in writing to the licence-holder by Council officers.”

 

3. That officers, in consultation with the Chair of the Licensing Committee, may make minor amendments to the wording of the above condition as may prove necessary.

 

4. That the existing policy for hackney carriage vehicles being licensed for the first time be amended so that the DVLA vehicle age identifier (eg “58” or “08” on a licence plate) is not more than four years old when first licensed by the Council in the case of London-style and purpose-built hackney carriages; and no more than three years old in all other cases.