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Have Your Say!
Mr Naish, Private Hire Driver, spoke to the Committee concerning the requirement in the new Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy for an annual medical once a driver reached the age of 65. Mr Naish questioned why it was necessary when the DVLA do not request any renewal of licence until the age of 70. Mr Naish asked why there was age discrimination towards taxi drivers when members of staff from other areas of work are not asked to complete a medical examination to carry on working.
The Committee sympathised with Mr Naish but acknowledged that, as Mr Ruder had pointed out, the annual medical certification for a Private/Hire Hackney Carriage driver from the age of 65 is a requirement of the Group 2 UK medical standards for driver licensing.
Mr Isbill, Chairman of the Colchester Hackney Carriage Association, addressed the Committee with regard to investigating quotes for CCTV systems that met the specifications currently required by the Policy. Mr Isbill informed the Committee that the cost was £1000 - £1200 which he felt was a substantial amount. The Committee thanked Mr Isbill for his assistance with regard to the quotes but would not comment at the moment as CCTV would be discussed at a future Committee date.
The Committee then considered a report from the Assistant Director Communities concerning the Taxi Policy consultation responses and were asked to consider those received following a further period of consultation on the Policy.
Mr Ruder, Licensing, Food & Safety Manager informed the Committee that, due to the outcome of the consultation, officers were asking the Committee to approve the necessary changes to the Taxi Policy but not to include, at this stage, provisions relating to CCTV. He informed the Committee that officers had been working very closely with trade members and a number of important issues had been raised which required further detailed consideration and work. Amongst the issues raised were the ownership and storage of the data and cost of the equipment.
The Committee thanked officers and the Hackney Carriage/ Private Hire drivers, who had responded to the consultation, for all their hard work and co-operation.
RESOLVED –
(i) That the Policy, excluding Appendix 1, be recommended to full Council for adoption and implementation with effect from 1 January 2019.
(ii) That full Council be recommended to delegate to the Licensing Committee authority to determine the provisions in relation to the installation of CCTV in hackney carriage and private hire vehicles.