To receive declarations of personal and prejudicial interest (if any) from Members/Officers in accordance with the provisions of the Members Code of Conduct adopted by Council from 1 September 2008.

None.

To receive for approval the minutes of the Licensing Committee of 24 October 2017

RESOLVED:          That the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Committee of 24 October 2017 be approved as a true and accurate record. 

The Licensing Policy Officer reported on the impact of Sections 165 and 167 of the Equality Act 2010 which commenced on 6 April 2017 and on proposals for the Committee to determine whether to maintain a list of designated vehicles in accordance with that Act.

He informed the Committee that Section 165 of the Equality Act 2010 placed specific ‘duties’ on the driver of a "designated vehicle" i.e. hackney carriage and private hire vehicles that are wheelchair accessible.  While Section 167 of the Act provided the Council with powers to make lists of wheelchair accessible vehicles (i.e. “designated vehicles”).  He stated that whilst Local Authorities are under no specific legal obligation to maintain a list under the Act, the Government recommends strongly that they do so.  He stated that without such a list, the requirements of Section 165 of the Act would not apply.

The Licensing Policy Officer also reported that some drivers may have a medical condition or a disability or physical condition which makes it impossible or unreasonably difficult for them to provide the sort of physical assistance which these duties require.  In those circumstances, the Act allows the Council to grant exemptions from the duties to individual drivers.  He stated that drivers who have been granted an exemption will be issued with a notice, which must be displayed in the vehicle. 

He informed the Committee that a draft list of "designated vehicles" has been produced and it was proposed that any hackney carriage or private hire vehicle that was capable of carrying a wheelchair (with the user in situ), be included on the list.  He stated that there were currently 34 hackney carriages and 16 private hire vehicles that have this ability.  The designated vehicles list would need to be maintained and it was proposed that an updated list be published on the Council’s website on a monthly basis.  It was also proposed to publish the first list of designated vehicles on 1 March 2018.  He stated that the published list will detail the vehicle licence number, registration, make and model, and whether the vehicle is a hackney carriage or for private hire use only.  Once the list is published, it would be an offence for the driver (unless exempt) of a hackney carriage or private hire vehicle which is on the designated list to fail to comply with the duties required by the Act.       

RESOLVED:          That the Committee approved the proposal to publish and maintain a list of designated vehicles in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.     

To consider any other item(s) of business in respect of which notice has been given in accordance with Rule 4 of the Council Procedure Rules and which the person presiding at the meeting is of the opinion should by reason of special circumstances be transacted at the meeting as a matter of urgency.

There were no urgent items.