Agenda item

To receive a report setting out the results of the consultation process on the proposed new Convictions Policy for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers and Operators.  To consider the responses and agree a new Policy document.

The Committee received a report setting out the outcomes of a public consultation on the proposed new Convictions Policy for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers and Operators.

As part of an ongoing review of its policies the Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Convictions Policy had been reviewed to ensure that it took into account the latest legislation and was in line with nationally recognised best practice.  The revised policy had been developed using a template policy from the Local Government Association and the Council had worked with licensing officers from the other Surrey authorities to ensure that there was a consistent approach across the County.

The draft policy had been subject to a six week public consultation between 17 March and 28 April 2017.  Details of the consultation had been sent to all licenced hackney carriage drivers, private hire drivers and private hire operators in the Borough, all Surrey Licensing Authorities and Surrey County Council’s Safeguarding Children Team.  Details of the consultation had also been advertised on the Council’s website and publicised through social media channels.

A number of comments relating to administrative matters had been received from Surrey Licensing Authorities and these had been incorporated into the draft policy.  Surrey County Council had requested that the policy provide greater clarity in relation to those who had been banned from working with children or vulnerable adults and this had been included in an Appendix.  No responses had been received from licence holders.

It was questioned whether the requirement for applicants who have continuously  resided for six or more months overseas to provide either evidence of a criminal record check from the country or countries visited during the period they were aboard or a certificate of good conduct was sufficient as a safeguarding measure.  It was acknowledged that the variation in background checks between different countries was not an ideal situation and that advice would be sought on the matter.

RESOLVED that:

      i.        The comments received as part of the public consultation on the draft revised Convictions Policy for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers and Private Hire Operators be noted

     ii.        The draft revised Convictions Policy for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers and Private Hire Operators, as set out at Annex 2 of the report, be approved.