Issue - meetings

To consider updating the existing “knowledge” test required of applicants for a Hackney Carriage Driver’s Licence by adding an “essential skills” test;  extending its application to include applicants for a Private Hire Driver’s Licence and related matters.

(Report attached)

The Committee was asked to consider updating the existing “knowledge” test required for applicants for a Hackney Carriage Driver’s Licence by adding an “essential skills” test.  Members were also asked to consider extending the test to include applicants for a Private Hire Driver’s Licence, who are not currently tested and also to enable Members to require existing Private Hire Driver’s Licence Holders to take the test, should they appear before the Licensing Sub Committee (Taxis).  Officers were asked to report to a future meeting on the Driving Standards Test,

RECOMMENDED that

1)                                         for all new applications for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver’s Licences received after 1st March 2011 the “fit and proper” person policy be amended to require all applicants to take a knowledge test in order to enable the Council to judge if they are “fit and proper” to hold a licence; and

RESOLVED that

2)                                         the existing “knowledge” test be amended to incorporate an “essential skills” test in the form set out in Appendix 1 to the report; and

3)                                         should an existing Private Hire Vehicle Driver be referred by Officers to the Licensing Sub Committee (Taxis), that Committee may require that they take the “knowledge” test, should that Committee consider it necessary for them to do so.