Decision details

The Assistant Director (Localities) submitted a report in relation to introducing a medical exemption policy under the Equality Act 2010.  The Equality Act 2010 means that service providers must make ‘reasonable adjustments’ or changes to take account of the needs of disabled employees and customers. 

Bury Council is committed to an accessible public transport system in which disabled people have the same opportunities to travel as other members of society.  Taxis and private hire vehicles are a vital link in the transport chain.  It is important that people who use wheelchairs or assistance dogs can have confidence that drivers will carry them and their wheelchair or assistance dog and at no extra charge.  A driver who fails to comply with all requirements of the Equality Act 2010 may be guilty of an offence and is at risk of prosecution, subject to any prescribed exemptions.

Currently Bury Council does not have a policy which permits licensed hackney carriage/private hire drivers to apply for a medical exemption

under the Equality Act 2010, therefore the Licensing Service have drafted a policy to ensure that drivers who have allergies/medical

conditions which do not allow them to comply with the requirements of the Act can apply for an exemption. 

It was agreed:

·         That the policy be approved and

·         To delegate the issuing of exemption certificates to the Head of Service for Trading Standards and Licensing, or the Licensing Unit Manager/Deputy Licensing Officer in consultation with the Chairperson of the Licensing and Safety Panel.