Agenda item

This report asks the Committee to consider a small number of policy changes that have been identified following a business process redesign exercise.

The Committee received a report of the Head of Environmental Services outlining three policy changes that had been identified following a business process redesign exercise.

The Licensing Manager introduced the report and explained the context of the business process review. He explained that the review was to save £38K from the budget and involved redesigning the mechanisms by which applicants engage with the team.  There were three areas that needed the Committee’s agreement and each one would be dealt with in turn.

Recommendation 1:That from 1 October 2012 applicants for hackney carriage or private hire vehicle licences shall be required to produce a valid MOT certificate for the vehicle issued within the previous thirty days, and that Certificates of Compliance are no longer accepted.

The Licensing Manager explained the current practice. He advised that moving to a system of MOTs followed by a vehicle check by officers would be slightly cheaper and more convenient for drivers and there would be a cost saving for the Council.

Following a question from Councillor Dhindsa, the Licensing Manager confirmed that certificates of compliance were required for all drivers, not just new applicants. The new process which split the vehicle check into two parts would be much more efficient and the issue of the paper licence would be reduced to approximately two days rather than 30 days. The liaison with the garages and waiting for documents was time-consuming. A further advantage of the proposal was that meeting the drivers to check their vehicles gave officers a chance to build a good relationship with them.

Councillor Dhindsa felt that it would be preferable if all the vehicle checks were done at a garage. The Licensing Manager advised that drivers would not incur any extra costs and the inspection by officers would be covered in their fees. He added that it would also improve consistency in vehicle standards.

The Licensing Manager highlighted that, as at present, drivers would need to go to one of three garages. This would be reviewed after April 2013 when current arrangements finished. After that, it may be possible for drivers to have an MOT at a garage of their choice.

Following a question from Councillor Brandon, the Licensing Manager confirmed that the drivers pay the garages directly for their certificates of compliance.

Councillor Meerabux advised that he was persuaded by the proposal especially if the drivers were happy with the change. The Licensing Manager advised that a stakeholder consultation meeting had taken place and representatives from private hire operators and the Hackney Carriage Driver Association had attended and were supportive of the changes.

In response to a question from Councillor Mills, the Licensing Manager replied that the checks would be undertaken by the Assistant Licensing Officers and would take place at Wiggenhall Depot. If there were any issues, a Licensing Officer would inspect the vehicle.

Councillor D Scudder felt that this was a good proposal and would benefit both the Council and the drivers.

Councillor Derbyshire said that he agreed and it was a good idea to rely on MOTs which were based on national standards. He questioned why the MOTs were limited to only three garages. The Licensing Manager advised that these were the existing three garages and an agreement was in place until April 2013. This arrangement could be reviewed next year. There was no cost to breaking the contract but there would need to be consideration of whether there was a risk to the Council. Officers had no objection in principle to allowing drivers to obtain an MOT certificate from any garage. Members supported the proposal that drivers could use any garage for their MOT after April 2013.

Councillor Dhindsa said he did not think the proposal would offer cost savings as it would take a lot of officer time. He asked what checks the officers would be undertaking. The Licensing Manager noted that MOTs were validated by the Vehicle Operator and Services Agency (VOSA) and he listed the checks that officers would undertake. The Environmental Health and Licensing Section Head added that officers would undertake all the additional checks included in the Certificate of Compliance that were not part of the MOT. She added that the Council would not do it if it would lower standards.

This recommendation was agreed.

Recommendation 2: That officers suspend the hackney carriage licence or private vehicle licence of a vehicle that has been damaged in an accident until such time as the damage is repaired or, if mechanical damage is involved, a valid MOT certificate has been produced to officers.

The Licensing Manager explained that this policy had not yet been approved by the Committee and was current practice.

In response to a question from Councillor Hastrick, the Licensing Manager confirmed that this meant a further MOT on top of the annual test. Officers were not mechanically trained to determine whether an accident which appeared superficial had affected the roadworthiness of the vehicle. He confirmed that if an MOT had been obtained within 72 hours of the accident, there would be no need to suspend the licence. It was important to ensure the safety of the public who were being carried in the vehicles.

Following a question from the Chair, the Licensing Manager confirmed that the practice had been in place for a long time and there had been no problems.

Councillor Dhindsa asked whether a garage could issue a roadworthiness certificate instead. Councillor Brandon added that an MOT was an extra cost to drivers. Councillor Jeffree noted that MOTs were subject to national standards and this would provide consistency.

This recommendation was agreed.

Recommendation 3: That applicants for a hackney carriage driver’s or private hire vehicle driver’s licence be required to submit with their applications certificates to show they have passed an appropriate assessment by the Driving Standards Agency and the Council’s Knowledge Test, neither of which may be more than six months’ old at the time of submitting the application.

The Licensing Manager explained the current procedure and explained how the recommendation would be more efficient for applicants and for the Council.

This recommendation was agreed.

RESOLVED –

That from 1 October 2012 applicants for hackney carriage or private hire vehicle licences shall be required to produce a valid MOT certificate for the vehicle issued within the previous thirty days, and that Certificates of Compliance are no longer accepted. Until April 2013 the MOT certificate must come from one of the three approved garages. From 1 April 2013 MOT certificates from any garage will be accepted.

That officers suspend the hackney carriage licence or private vehicle licence of a vehicle that has been damaged in an accident until such time as the damage is repaired or, if mechanical damage is involved, a valid MOT certificate has been produced to officers.

That applicants for a hackney carriage driver’s or private hire vehicle driver’s licence be required to submit with their applications certificates to show they have passed an appropriate assessment by the Driving Standards Agency and the Council’s Knowledge Test, neither of which may be more than six months old at the time of submitting the application.