Questions are invited from members of the public present at the meeting on any matters for which this Panel is responsible.
Approximately 30 minutes will be set aside for Public Question Time if required.
Minutes:
Members of the public were in attendance at the meeting and submitted the following verbal questions:-
Mr Muhammad Sajjad Warraich from the Private Hire Drivers Association in Bury had a number of questions and queried if the policy for common minimum licensing standards was fit for purpose as both the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency had different criteria for road legal vehicles, that had suffered accident damage.
The Licensing Unit Manager, Michael Bridge reported that consultations had taken place in relation to minimum licensing standards in 2020 which included the issue of the refusal to allow written off vehicles to be licensed as private hire or hackney carriages after 1 April 2022 He stated that whilst the standards have now been adopted by the Council, there were on-going discussions across the Greater Manchester licensing network group about this issue although further information could not be communicated at this moment in time.
Mr Warraich further commented on this matter and wondered when the policy was drafted did officers not give consideration to criteria other organisations and insurance companies adhere to.
The Licensing Unit Manager responded that the trade did have the opportunity to comment about written off vehicles during the consultation and the response rate received on this issue was very low. He confirmed to the Committee that from the 1st April 2022 written off vehicles would not be licensed, but was unable to comment on whether the insurance industry had provided any responses to this matter.
Mr Warraich stated that he understood the case for new vehicles trying to be licensed but had concerns about existing vehicles currently being used which had been written off in the past. The Licensing Unit Manager stated that this was the issue currently under discussion within the GM network group.
Mr Warraich then asked that if a driver worked for more than one different taxi company’s would this create a loophole in the policy for displaying stickers on vehicles as they would need to be removed and changed and this would increase the costs to the driver associated with purchasing those stickers.
The Licensing Unit Manager responded by stating that lawfully, that once a vehicle is licenced it is always a licensed vehicle and therefore as a licensed a vehicle, should always have the operators signage on and if working for Uber their signage should be displayed. This was what is required under the licensing conditions.
Mr Sharif then questioned the approach to enforcement and stated that he was unhappy if a member of the public complains to the Licensing Department about a driver smoking in their vehicle that the information was held on the licence holders personal records and not. He stated that this should not be the case until proof has been provided and an investigation undertaken.
The Head of Public Protection, responded that it was a criminal offence to smoke in a bus or taxi vehicle and the complaint would be dealt with via an investigation. He stated that the Council has a duty to investigate and would do so and not just rely on what was said by way of a complaint.
Mr Warraich questioned why Bury Council DBS checks take so long compared to the
lesser time it takes if undertaken by the applicant and processed via the Post Office.
The Licensing Unit Manager responded that the reason for differing timescales can be if there is a long history of a criminal record, with some checks ranging from 2 days and some up to 8 weeks. He explained that drivers must apply themselves and don’t always upload all of the necessary information required.
Mr Warraich then asked why the Council issues taxi licences with photographs of the driver printed on them that have been taken over 3 years ago.
The Licensing Unit Manager reported he would look into this matter.
Mr Warraich questioned the requirement for payment of a £14.50 fee charged by the Licensing Service for online licensing checks when they are available for free online from the DVLA.
The Licensing Unit Manager stated the driver provides the Council with the code obtained from the DVLA and no fee is charged from the Licensing Service.
Mr Warraich asked if the local trade would be safeguarded with declining numbers in Bury and cross border work being undertaken.
The Licensing Unit Manager stated this would require a change of legislation nationally by central government but the issue had been discussed across the GM network.
Mr Charlie Oakes (Bury Hackney Drivers Association) then asked a question as to whether an agreement could be obtained via Wolverhampton Council to enforce their registered vehicles in the Bury area as that was being conducted in other parts of the country.
The Licensing Unit Manager explained to the Committee that any issues with Wolverhampton or other local authority licensed vehicles would currently be referred back to them but it could be investigated.