Agenda item

Report of Principal Licensing Officer

The Committee received the report of the Principal Licensing Officer, which sought Members’ approval to introducing new training arrangements for all new applicants for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers’ Licences through Lancaster and Morecambe College; to assess the current application procedure; to consider placing a limit on the number of times that an applicant could re-sit the Knowledge Test; and that the Knowledge Test be incorporated with the new driver training course at Lancaster and Morecambe College.

Janet Boardman, Business Development Manager from Lancaster and Morecambe College, was in attendance to answer Members’ question regarding the course programme, its content and delivery.

It was reported that Lancaster and Morecambe College wished to reintroduce a recognised Hackney Carriage and Private Hire qualification, which could be provided locally, and to develop a bespoke training syllabus appropriate to local need.

Members were advised that the current arrangement for training new Hackney Carriage or Private Hire applicants was through Blackpool and Fylde College.  The arrangement had been in place for over three years.  The qualification obtained was the City and Guilds Level 2:  Introduction to the role of the Professional Taxi and Private Hire driver.  The cost of the course was £235.00, and new applicants were currently given a year to complete the training.

It was reported that the Knowledge Test for new drivers was a separate test administered by Licensing Services, which all new drivers must successfully complete as part of the licence application.

It was proposed that Lancaster and Morecambe College be invited to deliver a 4-day BTech Level 2 Certificate in the Introduction to the Role of the Professional Taxi and Private Hire Driver, incorporating the Knowledge Test, which would need to be successfully completed before a licence was granted.

The cost of the training would be a one-off cost to the applicant of £225.00.  Lancaster and Morecambe College had provided a 3-year commitment to run the course and maintain it at this figure, subject to annual inflationary increases only.

The 10 modules studied by the driver were set out in the report, including a tailor-made module developed by Council Officers to include licence rules and regulations, local knowledge and CSE training, which it was felt would be more effective and useful than the current arrangements. 

Upon enrolment, applicants would be required to sit a pre-course numeracy/literacy online assessment, which would assist college tutors in supporting them at the appropriate level.

Members were recommended to place a limit on the number of times an applicant could re-sit the Knowledge Test, which could currently be taken as many times as required to pass, at a cost of £20.00 per re-sit.

The advantages to Lancaster and Morecambe College providing the training were outlined to Members.

It was proposed by Councillor Hartley and seconded by Councillor Joan Jackson:

“(1)      That there be a new requirement that all applicants for the grant of a Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver’s Licence attain a BTech Level 2 Certificate in the introduction to the role of the professional Taxi and Private Hire Driver, through Lancaster and Morecambe College, as part of the application procedure, and that this take effect from the first scheduled course date of 24^th to 27^th April 2018.

(2)       That the requirement that applicants for the grant of a Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver’s Licence pass the locally set Knowledge Test as a separate test, and that the content contained in the Knowledge Test be incorporated as a unit within the proposed BTech qualification.

(3)       That the application criteria in regard to the Knowledge Test be amended to require an applicant to wait 6 months before applying again, should they fail the Knowledge Test 3 times.

(4)       That the Rules, Regulations and Procedures for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing document be made appropriate.”

It was then proposed by Councillor Hamilton-Cox, by way of amendment to proposal (2), that the Knowledge Test continue to be delivered and administered by Licensing Services,

There being no seconder, the amendment fell.

Members then voted on the original motion, whereupon 4 Members voted in favour of the proposition, with 1 abstention, after which the Chairman declared the proposal to be carried.

Resolved:

(1)       That there be a new requirement that all applicants for the grant of a Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver’s Licence attain a BTech Level 2 Certificate in the introduction to the role of the professional Taxi and Private Hire Driver as part of the application procedure, and that this training be provided by Lancaster and Morecambe College, and that this take effect from the first scheduled course date of 24^th to 27^th April 2018.

(2)       That the requirement that applicants for the grant of a Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver’s Licence pass the locally set Knowledge Test as a separate test, and that the content contained in the Knowledge Test be incorporated as a unit within the proposed BTech qualification.

(3)       That the application criteria in regard to the Knowledge Test be amended to require an applicant to wait 6 months before applying again, should they fail the Knowledge Test 3 times.

(4)       That the Rules, Regulations and Procedures for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing document be made appropriate.