Issue - meetings

RESOLVED – that (A) the report be received; and;

(B)      the revised Driver Convictions Policy be approved, as now submitted, to take effect from 15 July 2016; and

(C)      authority to make decisions under the new policy be delegated to Officers.

(see also Minute 205)

The Chief Executive submitted a report that presented the responses to consultation in respect of the draft revised Driver Convictions Policy.  The Senior Specialist Licensing Officer explained that the rationale behind the need to revise the policy was a direct response to the “Report of Inspection of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council – February 2015”.  He explained that as part of the consultation process, more than 400 letters had been sent out to every individual and business in the East Herts licensed taxi trade.

Members debated the report at length.  Concern was expressed that the proposed policy had not been tested in a Court of Law.  The Senior Specialist Licensing Officer assured Members that the policy, as proposed, was a huge leap forward for the Council and that this enabled Officers to review applications in retrospect to ensure that all licence holders were “fit and proper” persons.  In response to further comments about the content of the policy, the Senior Specialist Licensing Officer confirmed that the form had been reviewed by a specialist lawyer, foremost in his field, who had supported the revisions.  The Senior Specialist Licensing Officer stated that other Councils in Hertfordshire were reviewing their policies based on what was being proposed.

The Senior Specialist Licensing Officer explained the content of the new application process and assured Members that data sharing protocols allowed the Council access to information from the Police about applicants which previously, it had not been able to access. 

Members congratulated the Officer on the report and asked that the process be continually monitored and brought back to Members when appropriate.

The Committee recommended the revised Driver Convictions Policy, as now detailed.

RECOMMENDED – that (A) the report be received; and;

(B)   the revised Driver Convictions Policy be approved, as now submitted, to take effect from 15 July 2016; and

(C)   authority to make decisions under the new policy be delegated to Officers.