Decision details

REPORT RELATING TO GROUP 2 MEDICALS

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: No

Decisions:

A report by the Assistant Director (Localities) was submitted to the Licensing and Safety Panel relating to medical reports that are required by the Licensing Service to be provided by Applicants for hackney carriage/private hire driver licences, which are considered under Section 51 or Section 59 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976. These provisions require that applications of this nature shall not be granted unless the Council are satisfied that the Applicants are ‘fit and proper’ persons to hold such licences. 

 

In addition, on reaching 45, current licensed drivers are required to obtain a medical report and are required to be passed fit every five years and from the age of 65 an annual certification is required.

 

The Council’s current policy is that all drivers must meet the requirements of the Group 2 standard for category C1 vehicles as set out by the DVLA and additional requirements are specified in respect of drivers who are insulin dependent diabetics.

 

At present the Licensing Service require the medical assessment to be carried out by the Applicants/licence holder’s own doctor by completing a Council template medical report.

 

Mr Oakes, Chairman of the Hackney Drivers’ Association Limited, has asked the Council to permit Applicants/licence holders to have their medical assessment undertaken by an alternative provider as the fees charged will be cheaper than that of their own doctor.

                    

It was explained that the Licensing Service has contacted alternative providers and received detailed information on how the assessments are carried out. 

Various issues were raised by the members of the Panel including who the alternative medical provider would be and if the assessment would be as thorough as an Applicants/licence holders own GP.

 

Delegated decision:

 

It was agreed, on a majority decision, in addition to medical assessments being undertaken by the Applicant/licence holders own doctor, to permit them to obtain a medical assessment from a pre-approved alternative provider and to delegate to the Head of Service (Trading Standards and Licensing), following consultation with the Chair of the Licensing and Safety Panel, to approve alternative providers to carry out the driver assessments.

 

Publication date: 13/11/2018

Date of decision: 05/09/2017

Decided at meeting: 05/09/2017 - Licensing and Safety Committee

Accompanying Documents: