To receive apologies for absence from Members.

Cllr JE Williams, Cllr JE Lewis, Cllr D Lewis, Cllr A Hussain, Cllr B Jones

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 18/02/2019 and 21/05/2019

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meetings dated 18/02/2019 and 21/05/2019 be approved as a true and accurate record.

The Senior Licensing Enforcement Officer presented a report which provided details of the current application procedure for the grant of a Hackney Carriage/Private Hire drivers licence and sought approval to introduce a staged implementation of a Knowledge Test for all new applicants.

The Senior Licensing Enforcement Officer explained that Under Sections 51 and 59 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 licensing authorities are required to ensure that persons issued licences to drive hackney carriages and private hire vehicles are “fit and proper” with suitable skills and abilities to provide a hire and reward passenger service to the community as a whole in Bridgend County Borough Council (BCBC).

The Senior Licensing Enforcement Officer explained that many of the Local Authorities in Wales already provide a knowledge test for new applicants. These include Swansea, Neath and Port Talbot, Cardiff, Vale of Glamorgan, Monmouthshire, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Powys, Merthyr Tydfil, Caerphilly, Blaenau Gwent.

She explained that driver competency should encompass a variety of criteria; such was listed in section 3.4 of the report.

The Senior Licensing Enforcement Officer explained that the current proposal for content that the taxi driver’s Knowledge Test would cover were as follows:

·         Numeracy/literacy questions

·         Hackney Carriage & Private Hire Legislation

·         Location of Buildings and Places of Interest / Location of Streets in the County Borough

·         Disability and Equality Awareness

·         Safeguarding

·         Routes within the County Borough and to major places of interest outside the County Borough e.g. airports, cultural and sporting venues.

She explained that there would be training material provided as part of the application process. She advised that each of the topics listed would have a number of questions related to that topic.

The Senior Licensing Enforcement Officer referred members to 4.3 of the report which detailed a number of proposals relating to the knowledge test and welcomed any questions regarding these.

The Legal Officer requested clarity on section 4.8 of the report regarding fees. She asked Officer if the cost of the test and subsequent two attempts of £25 was a single fee or if it related to each test.

The Team Manager (Licensing) explained that the £25 fee was for each test taken and agreed to amend the wording of this paragraph to improve transparency of fees and avoid confusion.

A Member asked if an applicant failed to turn up to their test, how the Licensing Officers were going to enforce the £10 booking fee.

The Team Manager (Licensing) explained that if the applicant were to book a second test, the charge would be made then. She added if the applicant decided that they did not want to pursue with their application, e.g. acquired a different job, there would be no simple or convenient way of obtaining the charge.

A Member asked if there was a genuine case of illness, would the applicant still have to pay the £10 booking fee.

The Team Manager (Licensing) explained that these cases would go to the Head of Legal and Regulatory Services for review to determine genuine cases  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.

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.

None.