Agenda and minutes

To note any changes in membership of the Committee made in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 4.3.

The apologies of Councillors G Galton, Noon, Prior, Spicer and Streets were noted

To approve and sign as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 25 October 2019 and to deal with any matters arising.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 25 October 2019 be approved and signed as a correct record.

Report of the Service Director – Communities, Culture and Homes seeking approval to update the private hire knowledge test.

The Committee considered the report of the Service Director – Communities, Culture and Homes which sought approval to update the Private Hire Knowledge Test.

Southampton City Council Officers Phil Bates, Licensing Manager and Russel Hawkins, Senior Licensing Officer; also representatives from the taxi trade were in attendance and with the consent of the Chair addressed the meeting.

The Committee noted that:

• Since the removal of the questions on junctions and locations from the Private Hire Knowledge Test in January 2018 the number of out of town Private Hire drivers operating in the City had reduced and the number of Private Hire drivers licensed by the Council had increased.
• Since the change to the Private Hire Knowledge Test the Private Hire operators had adopted greater responsibility for the quality of service delivery and had been undertaking assessments of their driver’s knowledge with tests that were bespoke to the client base of the operator.
• Private Hire drivers were still required to pass Disclosure and Barring Service Check, a Medical Test, a Driving Standards Test and new drivers were required to complete 2 hours of training
• The Licensing Authority was not able to monitor the hours that drivers are working
• The update to the Private Hire Knowledge Test would include 10 local questions on major landmarks and hubs such as the train station and hospitals.

RESOLVED that the update to the Private Hire knowledge test be approved.

Report of the Service Director – Communities, Culture and Homes proposing amendments to conditions for Sex Establishments.

The Committee considered the report of the Service Director – Communities, Culture and Homes which sought approval to amend the standard licence conditions relating to Sex Establishments.

Southampton City Council Officers Phil Bates, Licensing Manager and Ian McGuiness, Licensing Enforcement Officer, were in attendance and with the consent of the Chair addressed the meeting.

RESOLVED that the amendments to the standard licence conditions relating to Sex Establishments, which were proposed in the report, be approved. 

The Committee received and noted the report of the Licensing Manager which provided a brief summary of licenses under the Licensing Act 2003, Gambling Act 2005, Scrap Metal Act 2013 and Taxi Licensing for 2019. 

Southampton City Council Officer Phil Bates, Licensing Manager was in attendance and with the consent of the Chair addressed the meeting.