Agenda item

The Service Director Legal Services will submit a report providing an overview of the work Licensing Enforcement Officers have undertaken to date.

The Service Director Legal Services submitted a report providing an overview of the work of the Licensing Enforcement Officers undertaken recently.

Licensing Enforcement Officers had proactively embarked on a taxi licensing enforcement operation on the 21^st November, 2019.  This had been a daytime operation involving Licensing Enforcement Officers and Vehicle Examiners from the Smithies Lane Depot.  The operation focused on Springwell School and the drivers and vehicles contracted to transport children to the school on a daily basis.

Of the 29 inspected, 23 were found to be compliant.  6 vehicles were issued with immediate suspension notices for defects including nearside indicators, near side screen washer and number plate lights being inoperative, no reserve travel on the handbrake, the external of a vehicle being in a dirty condition, tyres below legal limits, ABS warning lights being illuminated and an electrical fault affecting all the lights on the vehicle.

Vehicle compliance continued to be an issue and at the forefront of every enforcement operation and with every Vehicle Examiner whilst undertaking vehicle inspections.  Defective vehicles could not be excused and were not acceptable and this, coupled with failing to complete basic vehicle inspection sheets was a continuing concern as not only had the Trade requested this, but it was a valuable tool that ensured the safety of the licensed vehicle.

Further proactive enforcement operations would continue to be undertaken to ensure that drivers, operators and vehicle proprietors took responsibility for their failures and made appropriate changes as this was key to ensuring the safety of the travelling public.

In the ensuing discussion, and in response to questioning, particular reference was made to the following:

·         In relation to the cleanliness standards of vehicles, it was noted that for an immediate suspension it would be an Officer judgment call, in one particular case the licence plate was ineligible resulting in the car being suspended until it had been cleaned.

·         Officers informed members that a suspension would not be lifted until the car had been deemed roadworthy by relevant Officers.  This could be anything from the same day for a dirty car that had been washed to weeks if it had a serious mechanical fault.

·         It was pleasing to note that the number of suspensions for faulty bulbs had dropped as the message seemed to be getting around for Drivers to carry spare bulbs in their vehicles.

RESOLVED that the report be noted and the Board place on record its thanks and appreciation to the staff within the Licensing Service and Smithies Lane Depot for all their hard work in undertaking enforcement activities and ensuring the continued safety of the travelling public and for the outstanding results currently being achieved.