Issue - meetings

Consideration was given to a report of the Trading Standards and Licensing Manager which advised the Committee of changes made to a procedure previously agreed in respect of criminality checks of all licensed drivers.

It was noted that The Department for Transport (DfT) issued Statutory Taxi & Private Hire Vehicle Standards in July 2020, the focus of which was on protecting children and vulnerable adults. In respect of criminality checks for drivers the guidance stated:

All individuals applying for or renewing a taxi or private hire vehicle drivers

licence licensing authorities should carry out a check of the children and adult

Barred Lists in addition to being subject to an enhanced DBS check (in section x61 of the DBS application ‘Other Workforce’ should be entered in line 1 and‘Taxi Licensing’ should be entered at line 2). All licensed drivers should also be required to evidence continuous registration with the DBS update service to enable the licensing authority to routinely check for new information every six months. Drivers that do not subscribe up to the Update Service should still be subject to a check every six months.

Members were informed that previously checks were carried out every 3 years. The change would become mandatory in January 2023 and drivers would be required to pay an annual fee of £13 for a subscription service that would notify the service of any changes. It was noted that drivers whose DBS registration was terminated for any reason, and their DBS certificate was no longer part of the scheme, the applicant/driver must complete a new DBS application and pay the associated fee. Where the original DBS Certificate was over 6 months old, or the last check completed was 6 months ago or more, the Dual Driver will be suspended until such time as their new DBS Certificate is returned and registered with the DBS Update Service.

RESOLVED that:

1.   The report be noted.

2.   The procedure as outlined in the report be approved.