Agenda item

Mick Sims, Licensing Manager, outlined a report seeking the Committee’s approval of the revised Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) policy.

The Officer reminded the Committee that the Council, as the Licensing Authority was responsible for licensing all Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers and had a duty to ensure that all licensed drivers were ‘Fit and Proper Persons’ to apply for and continue to hold such a licence. This included the power to refuse to grant a licence and suspend or revoke a licence where a driver was not deemed or no longer deemed to be ‘Fit and Proper’. 

In order to strengthen its current processes and procedures, the Council had revised its DBS policy to make it a mandatory requirement that all licensed drivers and new applicants must register with the DBS Update Service to create a ‘living certificate’ which the licensing authority could then access. The Committee had resolved to approve the draft DBS policy at its meeting on 22^nd July which authorised Officers to commence a full consultation exercise with all current licensed Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers and Operators.  This was conducted between 4^th August and 4^th September 2015 and it was noted that no responses were received.

A Member asked whether and drivers had contacted the Licensing Team to discuss the revised policy and was advised that no questions were received which related specifically to the policy.

Resolved-  That Council be recommended to adopt the revised Disclosure  and Barring Service Policy.