Agenda item

The Executive Director Place will submit a report informing the Board of the programme of taxi licensing activity progressed within Regulatory Services particularly in relation to safeguarding children, improving on existing standards with a key priority of ensuring the safety of the paying public.

The Executive Director Place submitted a report informing the Board of the programme of taxi licensing activity progressed within Regulatory Services particularly in relation to safeguarding children and improving on existing standards with a key priority of ensuring the safety of the paying public.

Following the publication of the Dame Louise Casey review and the more recent Rotherham Update Paper, the Licensing Service was able to confirm that a number of measures introduced by Rotherham MBC were already firmly embedded within Barnsley.  It was also important, however, to ensure that existing robust processes and policies were regularly reviewed to continue to ensure public safety.

To this end, the Service had considered a number of improvements implemented by Rotherham MBC that were not already in place in Barnsley as follows:

·         The introduction of a Standard Convictions Policy which the Authority was lobbying the Government to introduce

·         Retrospective Application of the Convictions Policy to all Existing Drivers – it had been deemed that such an approach was unjustified as there was not enough evidence to support such a move.  The Authority was, however, robustly applying its convictions policy to current drivers when any new information or intelligence came to light

·         The introduction of a Shared Database – work had started within South Yorkshire and had been picked up nationally by the Institute of Licensing and the National Anti-Fraud Network which had been commissioned to deliver a national database of taxi driver licence refusals and revocations

·         The introduction of ‘taxi cameras’ – these had been made mandatory in Rotherham and it was thought similar arrangements within Barnsley would be appropriate.  It was proposed, therefore, to seek approval to commence the process of establishing a business case to consider if their introduction could be justified.  Whilst there was no evidence to suggest that Barnsley had a Child Sexual Exploitation problem on the same scale as Rotherham, it was thought that the introduction of cameras in taxis would provide reassurance to both drivers and passengers and would help ensure their safety

In the ensuing discussion, the following matters were raised:

·         It was noted that as the introduction of cameras in taxis would require a change of policy, any recommendation from this Board would be referred to both Cabinet and Council for formal approval

·         In response to specific questioning, a reassurance was given that stringent checks were in place to ensure that those applying for taxi licences (or those renewing licences) were appropriately qualified and were fit an proper persons to hold such a licence

·         the Licensing service was confident that there were sufficient staffing resources should any issues arise which required CCTV footage to be examined

·         the introduction of a Shared Database of refusals and revocations was very much welcomed

·         it was noted that the Service had a good relationship with all Drivers and Operators who appreciated the effort that the Authority was making to ensure the safety of both drivers and passengers

RESOLVED:

(i)            that the report be received and the progress made to date be noted; and

(ii)          that approval be given for the Licensing Service to put together a business case to introduce taxi cameras in all licensed vehicles and that Cabinet be advised accordingly.