To agree the minutes of the meeting held on 21 May 2019.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 21 May 2019 were agreed as a correct record.

To receive any disclosures of interest from Councillors in accordance with the

Council's Code of Conduct for Members.

There were none.

To consider proposed changes to the current Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy and make a recommendation to Council.

The following supporting documents were circulated to the Committee immediately prior to the meeting and are attached to these minutes:

·         Comparison between Spelthorne and Runnymede tinting criteria

·         Runnymede’s tinted window consultation comments and

·         Proposed amendment to paragraph 6.5 of the draft policy in relation to tinted windows 

The Principal Licensing Officer presented the draft Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy prior to it undergoing a four-week consultation period by the Taxi trade.

The Principal Licensing Officer explained that the Policy had been revised in light of recent discussions by the Surrey Licensing Managers Forum. The revisions were proposed to enable a consistent approach across Surrey which would prevent prospective applicants from “shopping around” boroughs, and also to promote the safety of the taxi-using public.

He summarised the key amendments to the Policy, which were:-

·         the adoption of the National Anti-Fraud Network (NAFN)’s National Register of Refusal and Revocations (NR3);

·         amendments to the criminal record checking process (via the Disclosure & Barring Service [DBS]);

·         provisions of wording to give clear direction in respect of applications from app-based Private Hire Operations;

·         requirement for all Private Hire Operators (PHOs) and their controllers to complete Barnardos’ safeguarding vulnerable adults & CSE online training module;

·         requirement for all controllers working under the employ of PHOs to submit basic DBS checks;

·         wording to address the discretion for LEOs to require aesthetic vehicle faults to be rectified;

·         consideration to imposing restrictions on window tinting in licensed vehicles;

·         the implementation of a joint warranting scheme in conjunction with other Surrey authorities

The Principal Licensing Officer referred members to the late documents relating to consideration of restrictions on tinted windows. The Committee discussed the implications of imposing restrictions on tinted windows and having regard to the comments from Surrey Police to the Runnymede consultation, agreed that the cost to the Taxi trade was outweighed by the benefits of safeguarding the public.

The Principal Licensing Officer responded to the Committee Members questions and noted their comments for inclusion in the draft Policy.

Resolved to agree:

1. the draft Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy for consultation subject to inclusion of the amended Paragraph 6.5 on tinted windows as tabled at the meeting;
2. the immediate implementation  of the NAFN’s National Register of Refusal and Revocations (NR3); and
3. to recommend to Council, that the Scheme of delegations be amended to provide for the implementation of a joint warranting scheme empowering Licensing Enforcement Officers (LEOs) from other Surrey authorities to exercise common agreed enforcement duties when vehicles are operating outside of the issuing authority.