Agenda item

The Licensing Officer, Mr Idowu, introduced a report that updated on the mandatory safeguarding training for all hackney carriage and private hire drivers and operators and sought approval to suspend a licence where the licence holder had persistently failed to attend the training.

Members reminded that the training had been introduced in 2015 following high profile safeguarding issues around the country in particular relating to child sexual exploitation which had involved some taxi drivers.  Safeguarding training was therefore an important part of the licensing authority’s primary role in the protection, safety and wellbeing of the public.  The training had commenced on 17^th September 2016 and was considered to be effective and successful.  Thirty-six sessions had been held which had been attended by 901 new applicants and existing licence holders.  Further sessions were planned in each of the next four months.  The Committee was informed that approximately 55 current licence holders had failed to attend any of the 36 sessions despite regular invitations and reminders.  In view of the importance of the training it was proposed that a licence be suspended if a driver had not attended the training by 31^st May 2018.

Members welcomed the fact that the training programme had been a success overall, however, they were concerned that a number of drivers had not yet attended and the reasons for this were discussed.  Mr Idowu assured the Committee that every effort had been made to advise the drivers of the dates of sessions and it was noted that some licence holders may not be active in the trade and therefore not feel they needed to undertake the training.  The Committee agreed that it was essential for all drivers to undertake the mandatory training and the ability to suspend a licence was approved.

Resolved –

(a)  That the contents of the report be noted.

(b)  That it be approved with immediate effect that where any current holder of a Hackney Carriage or Private Hire Driver or Operator licence had repeatedly failed to attend a scheduled Safeguarding Training session by 31st May 2018, their licence would be suspended until they attended a scheduled training session.