A CONSULTATION has been launched by Redditch Borough Council on new draft policies for how it licences taxi and private hire vehicles, operators and drivers.
The authority has been reviewing its existing policies in response to Government guidance called the ‘Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards’.
Proposed changes include new applicants undertaking mandatory safeguarding training and licence holders registering with the DBS update service, making it easier for the council to find out if they receive any criminal convictions.
Chair of Redditch Borough Council’s licensing committee Councillor Salman Akbar said: “We want our customers and drivers to be confident that their journeys together will be safe ones, with this at the heart, we have worked with relevant stakeholders and have come up with the proposed changes, and the draft policy allows us to provide this reassurance.
“The consultation is now open to everyone, including the public and trade, and we would love to get your valuable feedback which will be used in decision making.”
The authority is also looking to update its policy on the licensing of vehicles used as taxis and private hire vehicles to encourage the take up of greener, less polluting vehicles where appropriate.
Full details of the policy can be found at redditchbc.gov.uk/consultations and the survey is there too.
