Agenda item

To consider the progress made with regard to all licensed drivers undertaking safeguarding and equality awareness training and to note the extension of the deadline for existing drivers to 30 June 2023.

23.1          Attention was drawn to the report of the Licensing Operations and Development Team Leader, circulated at Pages No. 163-165, which informed Members of the progress made with regard to all licensed drivers undertaking safeguarding and equality awareness training.  Members were asked to consider the report and to note the extension of the deadline for existing drivers to 30 June 2023.

23.2          The Licensing Operations and Development Team Leader explained that Tewkesbury Borough Council’s Hackney Carriage (Taxi) and Private Hire Licensing Policy required all licensed drivers to undergo mandatory safeguarding and equality awareness training.  The Licensing Service Review project plan required all drivers to be trained by 31 December 2022.  At the time of writing the report, there were still 510 drivers that had not completed this requirement; however, 60% of drivers that had been licensed with Tewkesbury Borough Council in 2018 had undergone some form of safeguarding training when that was being run in Gloucestershire.  Since the report had been written, a further 60 drivers had undertaken training, or submitted certificates, reducing the number of outstanding drivers to 450.  Members were advised it was not feasible for the remaining drivers to be trained by the end of the year; training was provided by Cheltenham Borough Council which had capacity to accommodate all outstanding drivers by 30 June 2023 and the deadline had been extended on that basis.  Monthly reminders were being sent to drivers and Cheltenham Borough Council was releasing training dates on a weekly basis.

23.3          A Member sought clarification as to the penalty for failing to meet the extended deadline and the Licensing Operations and Development Team Leader clarified that any driver would have their licence suspended until such time as they could submit a certificate of completion for the training; if a certificate was submitted the licence would be reinstated.  Another Member noted that the training was provided by Cheltenham Borough Council in order to ensure consistency across the county and he asked how long it took and how often the sessions were being held.  The Licensing Operations and Development Team Leader advised that training lasted for two hours and was currently held two to three times per month - from January 2023 sessions would be held weekly.  She understood there was a maximum of 30 candidates for each course.  The Member queried if other the other licensing authorities in the county were in a similar situation and was informed that all other drivers had been trained.  On that basis, he felt it was very important for Members to be kept informed of progress and the Licensing Operations and Development Team Leader undertook to email Members on a monthly basis with the outstanding numbers.  A Member asked how often drivers were required to renew their training and was informed they needed to undertake training every three years.

23.4          Accordingly, it was

RESOLVED           That the progress made with regard to all licensed drivers undertaking safeguarding and equality awareness training, and the extension of the deadline for existing drivers to 30 June 2023, be NOTED.