Agenda and minutes

Venue: virtually by MS Teams

Contact: Sally Prior - 01236 368024  Email: sprior@testvalley.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

459.

Public Participation

Minutes:

There was no public participation.

460.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

There were no declarations of Interest.

461.

Urgent Items

Minutes:

There were no urgent items to consider.

462.

Minutes

Minutes:

Resolved:

 

That the minutes of the meeting held on 19 November 2020 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

463.

Taxi Driver Safeguarding Training pdf icon PDF 235 KB

A report recommending the adoption of a requirement for appropriate safeguarding training of taxi drivers and operators.

Minutes:

The report of the Licensing Manager sought approval to introduce compulsory safeguarding training for all licensed hackney carriage and private hire vehicle drivers and operators licensed by the Borough Council.

Addressing the issue of abuse, exploitation or neglect of children and vulnerable adults has become a priority and a matter of great importance for the community and public authorities. Those in the taxi and private hire industry can play a pivotal role in identifying signs of such behaviour.

 

Resolved:

1.   That all existing licensed hackney carriage and private hire vehicle drivers and private hire operators be required to undertake approved safeguarding training.

2.   That existing drivers and operators to have until 31 October 2021 to undertake training and any that have failed to do so by this date will have their licences suspended, not renewed or revoked until such time as training has taken place.

3.  That with effect from 1 May 2021 all new applicants for driver or operator licences be required to have undertaken approved safeguarding training before being licensed.

4.  That all licensed hackney carriage and private hire vehicle drivers and private hire operators to be required to update their safeguarding training upon the Council’s request using a safeguarding training provider/assessment approved by the Council.

5.  That the Head of Legal and Democratic Services, in consultation with the Licencing Manager, Corporate Portfolio Holder and Chair of Licensing Committee be authorised to identify, approve and implement appropriate safeguarding training.