Agenda and minutes

Venue: The George Hudson Board Room - 1st Floor West Offices (F045). View directions

Contact: Angela Bielby  Democracy Officer

Items
No. Item

17.

Declarations of Interest

At this point in the meeting, Members are asked to declare:

 

·        any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests

·        any prejudicial interests or

·        any disclosable pecuniary interests

 

which they may have in respect of business on this agenda.

 

 

Minutes:

Members were invited to declare any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests, any prejudicial interests or any disclosable pecuniary interests that they might have in respect of business on the agenda.  No interests were declared

18.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 99 KB

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 4 September 2019.

Minutes:

Resolved:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 4 September 2019 be approved, and then signed by the Chair as a correct record.

19.

Public Participation

At this point in the meeting members of the public who have registered their wish to speak regarding an item on the agenda or an issue within the Committee’s remit can do so.  The deadline for registering is 5.00pm on Tuesday 8 October 2019.

 

Filming or Recording Meetings

Please note that, subject to available resources, this meeting will be filmed and webcast, or recorded, including any registered public speakers who have given their permission. This broadcast can be viewed at http://www.york.gov.uk/webcasts.

 

Residents are welcome to photograph, film or record Councillors and Officers at all meetings open to the press and public. This includes the use of social media reporting e.g. tweeting.  Anyone wishing to film, record or take photos at any public meeting should contact the Democracy Officer (whose contact details are at the foot of this agenda) in advance of the meeting.

 

The Council’s protocol on Webcasting, Filming & Recording of Meetings ensures that these practices are carried out in a manner both respectful to the conduct of the meeting and all those present.  It can be viewed at http://www.york.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/11406/protocol_for_webcasting_filming_and_recording_of_council_meetings_20160809.pdf

 

Minutes:

It was reported that there had been oneregistration to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme. 

 

Drew Thompson, a member of the YPHA, spoke on Agenda Item 5 (Taxi Complaints – 1 January to 31 August 2019).  Responding to an article in the Press, he drew attention to the high proportion of complaints against ‘out of town’ drivers and queried who was regulating Uber.

20.

Update on Disclosure and Barring Service Checks for York Taxi Drivers pdf icon PDF 115 KB

This report updates Members on the progress made on ongoing Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) ‘refresher’ checks for York taxi drivers.

 

Minutes:

Members considered a report which provided an update on the progress of the ongoing three-yearly Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) ‘refresher’ checks for York taxi drivers.

 

Since 1 January 2019, the licensing team had revoked the licences of 30 drivers for not completing a DBS check; two more had been revoked following notification of arrest by the police.  Officers reported that only four of York’s 977 licensed drivers now had a DBS check outstanding; two of them had begun the check process and were awaiting results.  The remaining two had stated that they no longer worked as licensed drivers and had undertaken to return their licences to officers in the coming days. 

 

Resolved:  That the information in the report be noted.

 

Reason:     To confirm that the committee has been updated on the progress made with the DBS ‘refresher’ checks.

21.

Taxi complaints - 1 January to 31 August 2019 pdf icon PDF 176 KB

This report updates Members on complaints about taxis for the period 1 January to 31 August 2019.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members considered a report which provided an update on the complaints received about taxis during the period 1 January to 31 August 2019.

 

The term ‘complaints’ referred to incidents reported from a wide range of sources, including other taxi drivers.  Of the 292 complaints on the database for this period, 114 were about York licensed drivers, vehicles or operators and 178 (61%) were not.  Details of the 262 complaints categorised by officers as ‘accepted’ were attached as Annex 1 to the report.  It was noted that one operator (‘Operator A’) had 136 complaints recorded against them.

19 road traffic accidents had also been ‘self-reported’ during the period.

 

In response to questions from Members, Officers confirmed that:

·        each complaint received was considered on its own merits;

·        previous complaints against the same driver / operator were a factor in determining the appropriate course of action;

·        officers in York could not take action against ‘out of town’ drivers or operators;

·        with the current level of resources, officers were reliant on the police for feedback on complaints involving traffic offences.

 

With reference to matters raised by Members and comments made under Public Participation, the Chair indicated that he would write to Uber to ask what action they were taking to improve the standards of their drivers in York.

 

Resolved:  That the information provided in the report and at the meeting be noted.

 

Reason:     To confirm that the committee has been updated on the complaints about taxis during this period.

 

22.

Work Plan 2019-20 pdf icon PDF 134 KB

To consider the Work Plan for the 2019-20 municipal year.

Minutes:

Members considered the committee’s work plan for the current municipal year.

 

Resolved:  That the work plan at page 25 of the agenda pack be approved.

 

Reason:     To ensure that the committee has a planned schedule of work for the year.

 

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