Agenda item

A report from the Executive Director (Operations) is attached.

The Executive Director (Operations) submitted a report relating to a request from a private hire driver and a trade representative to modify the lanyard, style and size requirement for a driver’s identification badge. This report considered the options.

The report set out the following options:

• To remain with the current design and dimension for hackney carriage/private driver identification badges as displayed in Appendix 2
• To modify Council Policy with the requirement for driver identification badges to that of a smaller credit card style identification badge and fabric safety lanyard as displayed in Appendix 3.

The Licensing Unit Manager reported the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 (LGMPA) and the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 (TPCA) make provisions for a Local Authority (district council) to attach such conditions, as it may consider reasonably necessary, to the licence.

The Council Constitution delegates the determination of the design of the vehicle plates and badges to the Licensing and Safety Committee.

Bury currently requires a driver to wear a photograph identification badge and have a similar badge displayed in the vehicle. The current identification badge dimensions are 9.8cm by 9.8cm due to the size of the laminate around the driver’s badge. Appendix 1 includes the current ID badge design and dimensions for Members information.

It is over 10 years since the Licensing and Safety Panel last considered modifications to vehicle signs and ID badges. As outlined below members of the Licensing & Safety Committee resolved to retain both as they were.

Members were reminded that following a request from the Private Hire Drivers Association and the Hackney Carraige Drivers Association on the 9^th January 2020 a report was considered regarding the review of vehicle signage and driver’s badges. Members resolved;That the current Council policy relating to the size requirements for identification badges for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle remains. The minute for this were attached at appendix 1 within the agenda packs.

During the preparation of the above report a representative from the Greater Manchester Licensing Managers Group met on the 5^th September 2019 with TfGM Disability Design Reference Group (DDRG), and TfGM staff. DDRG have wide ranging disabilities and impairments. There were a number of concerns discussed relating to licensed vehicles and of particular relevance to this report was as follows:-

·         All taxi and PHVs should display (at least A4 size) a recent photo, name and badge number of the driver in the vehicle so all passengers can identify the driver and ensure they’re getting into the right vehicle.

·         Many drivers don’t wear badges – and the text font on the badges is often too small to read for partially sighted passengers.

The Licensing Service have received a request from a private hire driver to review Council Policy in relation to the current size of the hackney carriage and private hire badge and removal of the chain that the badge is displayed on. The request is to change to a credit card style badge and a lanyard.

The Licensing Service have recently undertaken a procurement exercise for the Supply & Delivery of Taxi Vehicle Licence Plates, Driver Badge Materials, other Licences and Consents. The contract period is the 1^st October 2024 to the 30^th September 2027 with an option to extend for a further 12 months.

Examples of the proposed badges and lanyard have been sourced from the new contractor. The Licensing Service have attached these examples to the report highlighting the difference between the current badge and the proposed credit card style badge.

The proposed new identification badge would consist of:-

·         Pre-printed Credit Card style Hackney carriage and Private hire drivers’ badge

·         Lanyard

·         Laminate

·         Hologram

Members suggested if the in-house Council identification badge system could be utilised rather than outsourcing to an external company.

Members questioned how many drivers wanted this change and the clarified the representation from a private hire driver and trade representative.

Delegated decision:

It was agreed that the current design and dimension for hackney carriage/private driver identification badges would remain with an amendment to use a fabric safety lanyard as opposed to a metal chain link lanyard.