Decision details

Following consideration by the Council’s Licensing Committee, the Head of Service for public Health presented her report which sought Cabinet  approval of the implementation of a new policy of guidance on relevance of convictions for the determination and suitability of applicants and licence holders in the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire trade.

Members were advised that the Institute of Licensing (IOL) has published Guidance (April 2018) in response to concerns about the disparity in the criteria used by local authorities across the country to determine the suitability of applicants for hackney carriage and private hire licences. She advised that the IOL believed that widespread adoption of the Guidance would effectively achieve a level of consistency when considering such applications. The Guidance had been produced in partnership with and endorsed by the LGA (and on behalf of the WLGA). 

The Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities, Well-being & Cultural Services spoke of the importance the additional guidance would bring, with a consistent policy across the UK.  The Cabinet Member spoke of the importance of public safety and the additional reassurances implementation of the policy would provide.

The Deputy Leader spoke of the importance of the policy and commented on her previous role as Cahir of the Councils Licensing Committee and the important decisions taken by the Committee, commenting on the importance of regular training for Committee members to assist them in their role going forward.

Following discussions it was RESOLVED:

1.    To approve the new policy of guidance on relevance of convictions for the determination and suitability of applicants and licence holders in the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire trade, further to the recommendation made by the Licensing Committee held on the 29th July 2019, as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report.

2.    To approve the implementation of the new policy of guidance with effect for all new applications received and existing licences in place on and after 1st November 2019.

N.B During consideration of this item County Borough Councillor A Crimmings entered the meeting.