Issue - meetings

To consider a report by the Head of Planning, Public Protection and Regulatory Services (copy enclosed) presenting the revised Byelaws relating to Hackney Carriage regulation for the Committee’s consideration and approval for formal consultation.

RESOLVED that –

(a)      the proposed Department of Transport Model Byelaws (as detailed at Appendix A to the report) be supported, and

(b)      officers be authorised to commence a formal consultation with all hackney carriage proprietors and licensed drivers.

The Senior Licensing Officer (SLO) submitted a report (previously circulated) presenting the revised Byelaws relating to Hackney Carriage regulation for the Committee’s consideration and approval for formal consultation.

Members were reminded of the Council’s legislative requirements for the licensing and regulation of hackney carriages and drivers.  Since local government reorganisation in 1996 those responsibilities had been exercised through the Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Conditions and Byelaws relating to Rhyl and Prestatyn only.  It was recommended that the Council adopt Byelaws which covered the whole of the county to ensure they accurately reflected changes in legislation and ensure a fair, transparent, and consistent approach.

Officers recommended that the Model Byelaws produced by the Department of Transport (Appendix A to the report) be approved for formal consultation with any representations being brought back before Council for consideration.  In the event the Model Byelaws were adopted by the Council, the Rhyl and Prestatyn Byelaws (Appendix B to the report) would be repealed.

Members agreed that a consistent approach across the county should be applied in respect of hackney carriage byelaws and noted that adoption of the model byelaws would not effect any major change but modernised the current provision which related only to Rhyl and Prestatyn at present.  The relevance of provision 18(a) was questioned in so far as it related to any property left behind being physically handed in to a Police Station.  The SLO confirmed items were meant to be deposited at a Police Station which was a licensing condition, with property being handed to someone in authority and the Police being best placed to deal with the matter.

Having considered all the information contained in the report the Committee –

RESOLVED that –

(a)      the proposed Department of Transport Model Byelaws (as detailed at Appendix A to the report) be supported, and

(b)      officers be authorised to commence a formal consultation with all hackney carriage proprietors and licensed drivers.