Agenda item

Feedback from the Private Hire Drivers Association Focus Group

This report contains an exempt Annex in accordance with paragraph(s) 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

Minutes:

 

Chris Howell, Licensing Manager, presented a report and gave a presentation following the conclusion of the Private Hire Drivers Association Focus Group.  A copy of which is filed with these minutes.

 

The Committee were asked to agree the recommendations agreed by the Focus Group and to determine the way forward for matters for which the Focus Group were unable to agree a consensus on.

 

Resolved:

 

That the following recommendations of the Private Hire Drivers Association Focus Group be agreed:

 

1.     That a test of the ability of an applicant to speak in conversational English, with a pass or fail judgement, be built into the application process at the pre-assessment stage.  If officers are concerned that an applicant is not capable of communicating to a suitable level then a recorded conversation will be undertaken to prove that due diligence has been applied, should the decision be challenged;

 

2.     That an intended use policy limiting drivers that receive a badge from the City of Wolverhampton Council to only work in Wolverhampton not be pursued;

 

3.     That new applicants with more than 6 penalty points on their driving licence be required to undertake a road-risk based test incorporating a classroom session and driving routes in rural and town areas as well as motorway driving.  The policy will not apply retrospectively to current licence holders who have more than 6 points;

 

4.     That child sexual exploitation training be made mandatory for all private hire licence holders and that all current drivers, who have not yet undertaken the training, undertake the training within one year of the date of the decision of the Licensing Committee.  Should a driver fail to do so their badge will not be renewed;

 

5.     That the Licensing Authority hold 2 training sessions per month for a 12 month period with a focus on the personal safety of drivers;

 

6.     That a “3 strikes and out” policy be introduced to testing.  Further applications would not be accepted for a 12 month period from the date of the third failed test;

 

That the following recommendations of the Private Hire Drivers Association Focus Group be noted but not agreed:

 

7.     that a test of local knowledge be built in to the assessment process through the inclusion of screenshots showing the geography, key landmarks and amenities of Wolverhampton;

 

8.     That the number of test questions be increased to 50 with a pass mark of 40 (80%);

 

9.     That all exisiting drivers be subject to the Assessment

 

That the following resolutions of the Private Hire Drivers Association Focus Group be noted and supported:

 

10.The following measures would be undertaken to alleviate problems at the railway station:

 

          Wolverhampton Private Hire Drivers Association to work with Council Officers to help to resolve problems;

 

11.The following existing and proposed means for the Licensing Authority to communicate with drivers:

 

      Increased direct communication via email and SMS

      Newsletter (Electronic)

      Training Sessions for online applications

      One stop website for drivers

 

12. That the following means for the Licensing Authority to encourage a positive public perception of the private hire trade be noted and endorsed:

 

      Good news stories through the Council’s Communications Team

      Signage in vehicles

      Explore the use of CCTV in Vehicles

      Work with Wolverhampton Private Hire Drivers Association on Preventing Crime and Safeguarding our Communities

Supporting documents: