Issue - meetings

To consider a report by the Head of Planning and Public Protection (copy enclosed) updating members on the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers Conviction Policy.

RESOLVED that members –

(a)       authorise officers to continue to assess the impact on the adoption of the Institute of Licensing Relevance of Conviction Policy alongside the Welsh Government’s review and report back to a future committee meeting, and

(b)       instruct officers to review the current Conviction Policy and report back to the next Committee meeting.

The Licensing Officer submitted a report (previously circulated) updating members on the review of the Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver Conviction Policy.

Members were reminded of the work undertaken by the Institute of Licensing (IOL) to develop a national conviction policy and the final guidance on determining the suitability of applicants and licensees had been published in April 2018.  The intention was for local authorities to adopt the document to standardise requirements, however initial enquiries in North Wales had indicated that only Anglesey had expressed an interest in adopting the document.  Consequently there was a risk that Denbighshire could be the only local authority in North Wales to adopt the document which could lead to applicants, who did not meet the policy requirements, being granted licences by neighbouring authorities and operating in Denbighshire in some circumstances.  The Licensing Technical Panel (Wales) had also agreed there was a need to scrutinise the policy further before they could support its adoption throughout Wales.  In addition the Welsh Government would be producing a white paper setting out proposals for licensing in Wales which they hoped to legislate before the end of the current Assembly term.  They had suggested that the IOL’s policy or some similar document would likely be included in any new legislation for Wales.

In response to questions officers confirmed that Denbighshire was represented on the Licensing Technical Panel (Wales).  Representation on the IOL consisted of high ranking officials and Wales was represented as part of that forum.  In light of the differing work streams and potential variations the committee was minded to wait for the outcome of the Welsh Government white paper and the Licensing Technical Panel’s scrutiny of the IOL policy document.  In the meantime it was agreed that the Council’s existing Conviction Policy be reviewed to ensure any areas of ambiguity were removed or clarified.

RESOLVED that members –

(a)       authorise officers to continue to assess the impact on the adoption of the Institute of Licensing Relevance of Conviction Policy alongside the Welsh Government’s review and report back to a future committee meeting, and

(b)       instruct officers to review the current Conviction Policy and report back to the next Committee meeting.