Agenda item

Issuing of Dual Licences Review

Report of the Chief Licensing Officer

5.1

Issuing of Dual Licences Review

5.1.1

The Chief Licensing Officer submitted a report on a review of the current policy of issuing joint Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers Licences.  The report indicated that the Committee had a policy which determined that the Council issued joint licences that allowed applicants to drive both hackney carriage and private hire vehicles, whichever was their choice, and that the policy had last been reviewed in October, 2008.  The report also contained details of the present legal position and information on how other local authorities administered their respective licences.

5.1.2

HafeasRehman, Sheffield Taxi Trade Association, stated that the general view of drivers was that the Authority should continue to issue joint Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers Licences.

5.1.3

In response to questions from Members of, and the Solicitor to, the Committee, Clive Stephenson, Principal Licensing Officer, stated that the major benefit of having separate licences was that it would make it easier for the Council to take action in terms of illegal plying for hire.  He added that there was no requirement on drivers to have two separate plates if they drove both hackney carriage and private hire vehicles as the licence related to the person and not to the vehicle.  The Solicitor to the Committee stated that the Council was generally successful in terms of Court cases relating to illegal plying for hire, mainly on the basis that if the driver was found guilty, his or her insurance would be invalidated and they would receive six points on their licence.

5.1.4

RESOLVED: That members of the public be excluded from the meeting before further discussion takes place on the grounds that, in view of the nature of the business be transacted, if those persons were present, there would be a disclosure to them of exempt information described in paragraph 5 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended.

5.1.5

The Solicitor to the Committee reported orally, giving legal advice on various aspect of the report.

5.1.6

At this stage in the proceedings, the meeting was re-opened to members of the public.

5.1.7

RESOLVED: That in the light of the information contained in the report now submitted, and the representations now made, the Committee (a) agrees that the current arrangements should remain unchanged and that dual licences continue to be issued to drivers and (b) requests that the policy be reviewed again in three years’ time, or earlier should there be any changes in legislation.