To receive and if so determined, to approve as a correct record the minutes of the Licensing Committee meeting held on 22^nd May 2013.

                       RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting held on 22^nd May 2013, be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To consider a report of the Head of Public Protection.

The Head of Public Protection submitted a report requesting Members to approve the introduction of a language and numeracy assessment as part of the application procedure for determining whether an applicant should be granted a private hire or hackney carriage driver’s licence.

The Licensing Team Leader provided a brief overview of the report and explained the willingness, if required, of Bolton College to carry out the assessments using qualified ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) teachers.

The Chairman introduced Mr Peter Griffiths the representative attending on behalf of Bolton College and Members were given an opportunity to ask questions of both the Licensing Team Leader and Mr Griffiths.

            RESOLVED:-

(1)       That the Licensing Committee approve the introduction of a language and numeracy assessment as part of the application procedure for determining whether an applicant should be granted a private hire or hackney carriage driver’s licence.

(2)       That the Licensing Committee agree the following recommendations as outlined within the report and which will come into effect as of the 23^rd August 2013:

          That all new applicants for a private hire or hackney carriage driver’s licence must meet the Council’s required minimum standard in English and Numeracy. The minimum standard for English and Numeracy is Entry

Level 2.

That all new applicants must undergo an English and Numeracy assessment prior to applying for a private hire or hackney carriage  driver’s licence regardless of their first language, ethnic background or qualifications.

That existing private hire and hackney carriage drivers will not be required to undergo an English and Numeracy assessment unless:

• their current licence expires for whatever reason, in which case their further application would be treated as a new application and the applicant would be subject to this requirement; or

• the Public Protection Sub-Committee considers it appropriate that an existing driver should undergo an English or Numeracy assessment following receipt of complaints against the individual which relate to, or call into question their  literacy or numeracy skills.

That the assessments be carried out by qualified ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) teachers from Bolton College.

That the cost of the assessment is £35.00 which may from time to time be amended by the Head of Public Protection.

The Chairman thanked the Licensing Team Leader for her invaluable contribution and Mr Griffiths for his attendance.