Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Landell Mills.

The Committee is asked to elect a Chair for the Council Year 2016/17

The Committee resolved to elect Councillor Clarkson as Chair for the Council Year 2016/17.

The Committee is asked to elect a Vice Chair for the Council Year 2016/17

The Committee resolved to elect Councillor Cook as Vice Chair for the Council Year 2016/17.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Head of Law and Governance has submitted a report which invites the Committee to establish Sub-Committees for the 2016-17 Council Year to deal with the casework flowing from the Committee’s own responsibilities.

Recommendations: That the General Purposes Licensing Committee resolves to:

1.     establish a Hackney Carriages and Private Hire Licensing Sub-Committee for the Council Year 2016-17, agree its powers and duties and appoint members to it on the basis of political balance;

2.     establish a Licensing and Registration Sub-Committee for the Council Year 2016-17, agree its powers and duties and appoint members to it on the basis of political balance;

3.     agree that substitution is permitted on the two sub-committees but that substitutes must be from the General Purposes Licensing Committee.

The Head of Law and Governance submitted a report the purpose of which was to invite the Committee to establish Sub-Committees for the 2016-17 Council Year to deal with the casework flowing from the Committee’s own responsibilities.

The General Purposes Licensing Committee resolved to:

1.     establish a Hackney Carriages and Private Hire Licensing Sub-Committee for the Council Year 2016-17, agree its powers and duties, to appoint Cllrs Cook, Clarkson and Landell Mills to it on the basis of political balance and that the meetings of the sub-committee would begin at 5.00pm;

2.     establish a Licensing and Registration Sub-Committee for the Council Year 2016-17, agree its powers and duties, to appoint Cllrs Clarkson, Coulter, Humberstone and Wade to it on the basis of political balance and that the meetings of the sub-committee would begin at 5.00pm;

3.     agree that substitution is permitted on the two sub-committees but that substitutes must be from the General Purposes Licensing Committee.

The Head of Community Services has submitted a report which informs the Committee of the progress made by the Taxi Licensing Function during the last Council year (April 2015 – March 2016).

Recommendation:  That the General Purposes Licensing Committee resolves to:

1.         note the contents of the report; and

2.         make any comments and recommendations regarding the future work of the Taxi Licensing Function.

The Head of Community Services submitted a report which informs the Committee of the progress made by the Taxi Licensing Function during the last Council year (April 2015 – March 2016).

The Licensing Manager presented the report.  In response to questioning on safeguarding measures he advised that the Licensing Authority’s high standards had received national acclaim.  He said that there was not yet a consistent approach across the whole county but achievement of this remained a priority for the Licensing Authority.

The Legal Adviser informed the Committee of the outcome of one appeal against a Sub-Committee decision.  Although the appeal had been upheld it was important to note that the Court had found no fault with the process followed by the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Sub-Committee in reaching their decision.

The General Purposes Licensing Committee resolved to note the contents of the report.

The Head of Community Services has submitted a report which details the findings of the “Unmet Demand” survey that was carried out between 7 September 2015 and 20 December 2015.

Recommendation(s): That the General Purposes Licensing Committee resolves to:

1.            agree to accept the conclusions of the Hackney Carriage “Unmet Demand” survey report prepared by CTS Traffic and Transportation that there is currently no significant unmet demand for Hackney Carriage Vehicles;

2.            recommend to Council that there is currently no unmet demand for the services of Hackney Carriage Vehicles and to therefore resolve to maintain the Council’s Policy of Hackney Carriage Quantity Control and the current quota of 107 Hackney Carriage Vehicle licences; and

3.            recommend to Council that a further “Unmet Demand” survey be commissioned in 2018, subject to any future changes to relevant legislation.

The Head of Community Services has submitted a report which details the findings of the “Unmet Demand” survey 2015.

The Licensing Manager introduced the report.  He explained that CTS Traffic and Transportation were appointed to undertake a Hackney Carriage Vehicles “Unmet Demand” Survey, which was carried out between 7 September 2015 and 20 December 2015, with further video and data intelligence research until February 2016.

He said that the survey concluded that:

“There is no evidence of any unmet demand for hackney carriages either patent or latent which is significant at this point in time in the Oxford area. The committee is therefore able to retain the current policy and limit at the present level and defend this if necessary. ”

The consultant from CTS Traffic and Transportation gave a brief presentation and answered questions.  He highlighted the following points:

•         hackney carriage usage down since 2012

•         Some impact of road works

•         More impact from private hire vehicles from inside and outside of Oxford

•         hackney carriage fleet appreciated and people know where to get them but people choose private hire vehicles

•         Appears private hire vehicles promotion has increased their share of market

•         No evidence of patent or latent unmet demand

•         Retention of limit would help trade focus on developing current offer

•         Need to take advantage of recent developments including computer apps and other ways to promote private hire vehicles

•         Council and county can assist in promoting rank locations

The General Purposes Licensing Committee resolved to:

1.            agree to accept the conclusions of the Hackney Carriage “Unmet Demand” survey report prepared by CTS Traffic and Transportation that there is currently no significant unmet demand for Hackney Carriage Vehicles;

2.            recommend to Council that there is currently no unmet demand for the services of Hackney Carriage Vehicles and to therefore resolve to maintain the Council’s Policy of Hackney Carriage Quantity Control and the current quota of 107 Hackney Carriage Vehicle licences; and

3.            recommend to Council that a further “Unmet Demand” survey be commissioned in 2018, subject to any future changes to relevant legislation.

Minutes from 26 January 2016

Recommendation: That the minutes of the meeting held on 26 January 2016 be APPROVED as a true and accurate record.

The Committee resolved to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 26 January 2016 as a true and accurate record.

The Committee noted the dates of future meetings and agreed that the start time should be 5.15pm.