The Law Commission had undertaken a consultation on the reform of the law relating to Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles. The Licensing Partnership Manager explained that it was generally accepted within the industry that reforms were necessary. The Council was responding to the consultation and had tried to provide a balanced response which reflected the views of both service providers and their customers. She had consulted with the trade. She had also asked them whether they would like the Council to represent them and respond on their behalf but had received no responses to this proposal.

The meeting was given copies of a response the Licensing Partnership Manager had sent to a Committee Member answering various questions about the consultation and the Council’s responses.

Officers then answered the Committee’s questions. The Commission did intend to replace all existing legislation on the matter with an overarching Act. Question 9 of the consultation asked whether “clubs” should be regulated but “clubs” had not been defined; Officers thought the legislation may use the definition in the Licensing Act 2003. Officers preferred that the new legislation refer to “taxis” and “private hire vehicles” and abandon the term “hackney carriage”; the Chairman felt it was important that each type of service be given unique names which clearly distinguished them.

It was proposed that the response to question 44 be amended. A Member of the Committee believed the Council should amend the proposal to say “Agreed as long as the charge is agreed in advance”. The Committee agreed to this amendment.

Resolved: That the proposed response, as amended, to the Law Commission’s Consultation Paper on reforming the Taxi and Private Hire law outlined in their Summary Paper be approved.