To agree the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 5 January 2021, as a correct record

Resolved:  That the Minutes of the Licensing Committee held on 5 January 2021 be agreed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Any interests not already registered

For transparency, Cllr Raikes declared that he had been acquainted with one of the consultees through Sevenoaks Town Council. 

There were none.

Members considered the report which proposed the 2.5% rise of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licence fees from April 2021 following the public consultation that received 6 comments as set out in Appendix A and B of the report.

Members discussed the proposed fees and expressed concerns for taxi drivers who had been financially impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. It was advised that the inflationary increase of 2.5% was proposed as the taxi licensing service was required to be self-financing.

Public Sector Equality Duty

Members noted that consideration had been given to impacts under the Public Sector Equality Duty.

Resolved: That the proposed fees and charges as set out below be adopted with effect from 1 April 2021.

FEES FOR 2021-2022

Hackney Carriage Driver Licence

Dual Driver Licence

Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licence

Private Hire Operator Licence

Private Hire Driver Licence

Private Hire Vehicle Licence

Additional Costs

Replacement Vehicles

If a vehicle licence is surrendered within 6 months of issue, a refund of £60 will be issued.

If a licensed vehicle is replaced temporarily for up to 2 months because of damage to it then the fee will be £95 to licence the replacement vehicle.

Vehicle garage test costs will be taken  ...  view the full minutes text for item 51.

Members considered a report which set out amendments to the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire policy, following consultation.

Following queries, Members were advised that data on refusals would be retained for 25 years on the National Register of Taxi and Private Hire Licence Revocations and Refusals (NR3) which was commissioned by the Local Government Association. Taxi licensing was exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, therefore background information retained on NR3 would be taken into account to assess the fit and proper status of a driver.

It was clarified that operators were not required to have the enhanced DBS checks but an annual basic DBS check. Should any operators also drive, they would be required to have the enhanced DBS check. Drivers would be encouraged to sign up to the online DBS service when they were next due their three yearly DBS check meaning it would take up to three years for all drivers to be signed up to the online service.

Public Sector Equality Duty

Members noted that consideration had been given to impacts under the Public Sector Equality Duty.

Resolved:  That

a)   responses regarding implementation of changes following issue of Department for Transport’s Statutory Guidance as set out in Appendix A and B, be noted; and

b)   it be recommended to Council that the changes to the Sevenoaks District Council Hackney Carriage & Private Hire Licensing Policy shown as set out in Appendix C, be approved.

The work plan was noted with the addition of an item on the Gambling Act 2005 – Gambling Policy Statement at the next meeting on 17 June 2021.