Decision details

Members were updated on the work of the Council’s Public Protection and Environmental Health Services (PPS) where there was a connection with businesses and persons who required a licence from the Council.  It also provided an update for Members on national policy changes and proposals affecting licencing work.   

Taxi Safety Operation

In August 2019 a joint taxi safety operation was undertaken in Hyndburn with officers from Hyndburn District Council, the police and VOSA.

6 vehicles licensed by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council were stopped and checked. Only minor issues were found.

Routine work carried out

Key figures on work carried out by members of staff working in the Licensing Team from 1 January 2019 to 30 September 2019 were shared as:

Clean Air

The Air Quality (Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles Database) (England and Wales) Regulations 2019 came into force on 1^st May 2019.  They require all licensing authorities in England and Wales to send to a central portal on a minimum weekly basis certain information about the taxis and PHVs that they have licensed. This would include the Vehicle Registration Mark, the start and expiry date of the vehicle licence, whether the vehicle was a taxi or PHV, the name of the licensing authority, the licence plate number and an indication of whether it was a wheelchair accessible vehicle.

There was to be a phased introduction in readiness for the start dates for the first charging “Clean Air Zones” in Leeds and Birmingham expected in 2020.

Fixed Odds Betting Terminal Stakes

Members heard that on 1^st April 2019 the reduction of the maximum stakes on fixed odd betting terminals (FOBT) came into effect.

The reduction in maximum stakes saw stakes reduced from £100 to £2.

Taxi statistics for 2018/19 released

Members were updated on the statistics released on taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) in England show at the end of March 2019.  It was noted that figures are updated every year through surveying each licensing authority in England and Wales.

Licensing Act 2003 – Councillor’s Handbook

The Committee were informed that the Local Government Association had updated its Councillors Handbook about the Licensing Act 2003.

RESOLVED – That the Committee noted the report.