Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no declarations of interest.

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Non-Statutory Licensing Committee held on 17 March 2021 be confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair.

There were no matters arising.

Chris Howell, Commercial Regulation Manager, presented the Review of Decision Making 2020-2021 report for approval. He outlined the annual report of the decisions made over the last municipal year and set out the delegations for the forthcoming year.

Councillor Inston proposed the recommendations and Councillor Page seconded the recommendations.

Resolved:

That Members of the Regulatory Committee:

1. Endorsed and approved the proposals in section 2 of this report relating to category 2 decisions.
2. Endorsed and approved the proposals in section 2 of this report relating to category 3 decisions.
3. Delegated category 3 decision making powers to the Director for City Housing and Environment.
4. Agreed to receive further annual delegation update reports at the beginning of each municipal year.
5. Noted the schedule attached at Appendix 1 to this report which includes further proposed delegations from the Director for City Housing and Environment.
6. Noted the schedule of employee decisions for 2020 - 2021 attached at Appendix 2 to this report in relation to new hackney carriage and private hire applications.
7. Noted the schedule of employee decisions for 2020 - 2021 attached at Appendix 3 to this report in relation to hackney carriage and private hire reviews.
8. Noted the schedule of decisions for 2019 - 2021 attached at Appendix 4 to this report in relation Magistrates and Crown Court appeals.

Councillor Steve Evans, Cabinet Member for City Environment & Climate Change, presented the Health and Safety Statutory Plan 2021-2022 for approval.

The Cabinet Member outlined the purpose of the plan, it’s key priorities and how these would be delivered.

Councillor Inston proposed the recommendations and Councillor Muston seconded the recommendations.

Resolved:

That Members of the Regulatory Committee:

1. Approved the proposed Health and Safety Statutory Plan 2021-2022

Greg Bickerdike, Licensing Manager, presented the Taxi CCTV Policy for approval. The policy would permit the voluntary operation of CCTV within Hackney Carriages and Private Hire vehicles licensed by City of Wolverhampton Council, improving the safety of drivers and passengers whilst protecting passenger privacy.

He highlighted a typographical error on page 91 of the agenda pack and stated that should the policy be approved by members, the reference to hearing difficulties would be removed as it was not applicable.

Councillor Page proposed the recommendations and Councillor Russell seconded the recommendations.

Resolved:

That Members of the Regulatory Committee:

1. Approved the Taxi CCTV Policy.
2. Noted the updated Data Protection Impact Assessment.

Greg Bickerdike, Licensing Manager, presented an update on medical certification for taxi drivers and applicants.

As a result of partnership working across the region, it was recommended that:

1. Medical certificates for taxi driver licence applications be accepted from other West Midlands licensing authorities and,
2. They be valid for up to four months from the date of examination, as recommended by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Members welcomed the partnership working between neighbouring authorities and the harmonisation of taxi licensing in the region.

Councillor Inston proposed the recommendations and Councillor Russell seconded the recommendations.

Resolved:

That Members of the Regulatory Committee:

1. Approved the acceptance of medical certificates for taxi driver licence applications on templates from other West Midlands licensing authorities.
2. Approved medical certificates for taxi driver licence applications up to four months from the date of examination, as recommended by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Greg Bickerdike, Licensing Manager, provided an update on the Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards. He presented members with a letter from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Transport, Baroness Vere of Norbiton, commending City of Wolverhampton Council’s efforts in implementing the Department for Transport’s ‘Statutory Taxi & Private Hire Vehicle Standards’.

Councillor Turrell congratulated the Licensing team on their hard work and moved the recommendations.

Councillor Rashpal Kaur seconded the recommendations.

Resolved:

That Members of the Regulatory Committee:

1. Noted the commendation received from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Transport, Baroness Vere of Norbiton, for the Council’s prompt implementation of the Department for Transport’s ‘Statutory Taxi & Private Hire Vehicle Standards’.