Eastleigh Borough Council Licensed Transport Forum Meeting

RESOLVED –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 19 November 2020 be confirmed and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

The Senior Licensing Officer responded to questions regarding funding available for drivers and vehicle extension of licenses from Jason Kauder.

·  51 grants had been provided so far; and

·  Four vehicles had their license extended by one year.

The Senior Licensing Officer updated that the rank repainting was now complete.

The Senior Licensing Officer presented the Enforcement Summary as set out in the Agenda (Item 5) and reported that no further mystery shopper or testing had been carried out due to the ongoing pandemic.

The Chair raised concerns regarding the number of suspensions, revocations etc at a time when there is less demand for taxis and private hires, and fewer cars being operational.

The Senior Licensing Officer confirmed that the Safeguarding Report went to the Administration Committee for approval and that safeguarding training was set to become of condition of holding a license. Further information on the training package would be updated when available, with two training package options being considered.

The Senior Licensing Officer advised that the Guidance on Fitness and Propriety would be sent out for consultation to drivers, operators, and members of the public for a period of 3 months before it was taken to the Administration Committee.

The Senior Licensing Officer acknowledged that due to the trade’s concerns around the time scales of IVA testing vehicles with N1 and M2 vehicle category, it was proposed that historic vehicles without an IVA be tested at their next compliance test by The Depot. Any concerns with the vehicle would be communicated to the proprietor immediately.

The trade agreed that would be helpful to them.

The Head of Legal Services requested that there would need to be ground rules set out so that there was no confusion ahead of any tests.

The Senior Licensing Officer provided an image of the private hire identification stickers for the sides of the vehicles and updated that no magnetic stickers would be allowed.

Roger Vivian raised concerns that he operated some vehicles in other capacities (private executive work for example) that needed to not have signage, but that those same vehicles also operated as private hires and therefore needed removeable signage.

Kevin May suggested that instead of removable signage that maybe a plain magnetic sign matching the colour of the car be used to cover the stickers when needed, which Roger Vivian agreed would work.

The Senior Licensing Officer would work with Roger Vivian to find a way to forward.

The Senior Licensing Officer updated that they were looking at making changes to the licensing forms to allow Occupational Health to sign people as fit to be licensed when GPs do not want to make final decision, but that the choice on whether to use GPs or Occupational Health would stay with the drivers.

The trade agreed that this would be helpful for those struggling to get their GP to provide and sign medical forms.

It was agreed that the Action List (Agenda item 11) needed updating and that the Senior Licensing Officer would do this ahead of the next meeting.