Driving Training and Test

Agenda Item No: 5 OPEN DECISION ITEM

Wolverhampton City Council Committee / Panel LICENSING COMMITTEE Date 12.12.07

Originating Service Group(s) REGENERATION AND ENVIRONMENT

Contact Officer(s)/ ANDY POULTON

Telephone Number(s) 0104

Title/Subject Matter TAXI DRIVER TRAINING AND TESTING

Recommendation Members are recommended to:

a) approve the proposed changes to the testing arrangements for private hire and hackney carriage driver’s in Wolverhampton for an initial pilot period of 12 months

b) approve the additional costing of the revised testing arrangements.

Driving Training and Test

TAXI DRIVER TRAINING AND TESTING

1.0 Purpose of Report

1.1 This report is intended to:

• Inform the Committee of proposed changes to the testing of applicants for Private Hire and Hackney Carriage driver’s licences in Wolverhampton for an initial assessment period of 12 months.

• Inform Members of the content of the theoretical and practical tests. • Inform Members of the practical arrangements for the training and testing day. • Advise Members of the change in cost of the revised testing arrangements .

2.0 Background

2.1 The Council has a duty to ensure that applicants for Private Hire and Hackney Carriage licences are ‘fit and proper’. To assist in satisfying this requirement the Council currently operates a written knowledge test.

2.2 The current test includes three elements in a multiple choice format:-

• Knowledge and use of an A-Z booklet. • Knowledge of conditions of the licence applied for. • Knowledge of local area (shortest route test).

2.3 The current test has been applied in its current format since 2004. 2.4 A number of concerns have been raised by staff and members of the Trade in relation to

the integrity of the current testing process, supervised by staff from Licensing and Support Services.

2.5 It has become clear that due to the restriction in the number questions available, that the

existing test can be ‘rehearsed and passed’, without the applicant fully understanding essential elements of the licensing process.

2.6 Consultation meetings with the Trade, which included both Private Hire operators and

members of the Hackney Carriage Trade have highlighted a number of concerns. These include:

• Poor standard of drivers entering the trade. • Poor standard of driving. • Poor understanding of the English language. • Poor knowledge of the Wolverhampton and surrounding areas. • The large number of drivers’ plying for hire. • Poor customer service to passengers, which in turn causes a high number of

complaints to the operator. 2.7 In addition to this information, Private Hire and Hackney Carriage drivers are

ambassadors for the City and are often the first point of contact for visitors to the area. It is clear that well trained and customer focused drivers can give a favourable impression of the City to visitors from around the country and Europe.

Driving Training and Test

2.8 As a result of this feedback, Officers from Licensing and Support Services contacted Worcester County Council, who currently administer a practical driving test with a view to discussing ideas to improve the current driver training provided in Wolverhampton..

3.0 Proposal

Theoretical Test Element 3.1 The testing process is in two parts. The first element is a one day training session on

theoretical elements, followed by a written test. The second element is a practical driving assessment.

3.2 The proposed driver training and testing process would ensure that applicants applying

for Private Hire and Hackney Carriage licences in Wolverhampton, would demonstrate the ability to drive safely, deal with all customers in an appropriate manner and communicate effectively.

3.3 The theoretical training includes the following elements:-

• Licence Conditions • Customer Care • Disability Awareness • Personal Protection • Driving Techniques

3.4 The training day involves an interactive Powerpoint presentation, which is designed to

test the participants’ ability to absorb information, as well as accept or respond to direct instruction. The ability of the participants to communicate effectively is an important element of the course and failure to do so will make passing the final examination very difficult

3.5 The training will take place every two weeks at the training suite at Culwell Street, with

up to 10 applicants made up of Private Hire and Hackney Carriage applicants participating.

3.6 It is proposed that during the disability awareness element of the training that members

of the public with disabilities, who are members of the Maltings Day Centre, attend the session to provide information to the applicants of their experiences when using taxis within Wolverhampton. Officers have also approached the Policy and Equality Division within Wolverhampton City Council, who have advised that they are unable to provide individuals to attend the meetings, but will continue to liaise with Licensing on disability and equality issues.

3.7 The cost of this one day training element of the licensing process will be £65.00 and is

an additional cost to the applicants which will be paid directly to Worcester County Council.

Practical Test Element

3.8 The revised driving test will be extended from the current 40 minutes, to 1.5 hours. The

new test will move away from the traditional manoeuvre based examination to a more practical driver assessment. This assessment will consider both the driver behaviour

Driving Training and Test

and the relationship with other road users. An example of the revised driving assessment criteria is attached at Appendix ‘A’.

3.9 The current driving test costs £25. The revised test will cost £60.00, which takes into

account the extended time period of the test. This fee will be paid directly to Worcester County Council by the applicant.

3.10 Details of the current cost of applying for a Private Hire/Hackney Carriage drivers and the

proposed increased costs associated with this improvement in driver testing is attached at Appendix ‘B’

3.11 It is important that all potential applicants are aware of the increased testing

requirements before they submit an application or make any financial commitment. In order to do this, Officers have prepared a ‘guidance leaflet’ which sets out what applicants will be expected to do to pass the driver training. When applicants request an application pack they will be given the ‘guidance leaflet’ together with a breakdown of costs and Officers will stress that they should read this thoroughly before progressing further with their application. The guidance leaflet will be available in the 8 recognised community languages. A copy of this document (in English) is submitted with this report to Members

3.12 If agreed by Members the revised testing arrangements will be implemented from 3

January 2008. Any applications submitted after 15 December 2007, will be subject to the test on this date.

3.13 The results of the test will be monitored throughout the initial 12 month period with

monthly reports forwarded to the Licensing Team by Worcester County Council indicating the success levels of the test.

3.14 If the initial 12 month trial scheme is successful, then a further report will be submitted to

Members in relation to the periodic testing of existing drivers to ensure an ongoing process to monitor the standard of service offered by Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Drivers in Wolverhampton.

3.15 Potential applicants will be advised of the following information relating to the application

process by Licensing Officers:-

• Applicants must submit the application fee and the cost of the CRB Disclosure to the Licensing Office at the time of initial application. At this stage applicants will be advised that they have two options to choose from:- • Not to undertake the driver training and testing days, until the results of the

CRB Disclosure are returned. However, the CRB Disclosure can take a period of up to 2 months to be returned by the Criminal Records Bureau.

Or • To undertake the driver training and tests, prior to the results of the CRB

Disclosure being returned. The applicant will be advised that if the information on the disclosure results in the application being refused, no refund of the test fees will be given.

Driving Training and Test

4.0 Benefits 4.1 The proposed training and testing scheme benefits the Private Hire and Hackney

Carriage trade, the drivers themselves and fare paying passengers, by providing a customer focused approach to the service.

4.2 All new drivers will be assessed to ensure that they have the necessary skills and

abilities to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner with customers and will have demonstrated their ability to communicate effectively and understand instruction.

4.3 The drivers will have confidence that they have received training on essential elements

of the taxi industry making them better equipped to provide a high quality service to customers and avoid confrontation and dangerous incidents where possible.

4.4 Passengers will notice an improvement in the standard and quality of the new drivers

entering the private hire and hackney carriage trades. 4.5 Subject to member approval of the proposed Driver Training and Testing Scheme, the Council will issue a press release, highlighting the changes in the process and the benefits that better trained drivers can provide to all communities in Wolverhampton. It is proposed that the article have a picture of Officers, Members and participants of the initial course to publicise the scheme as a positive step towards improving the quality of Private Hire and Hackney Carriage drivers in Wolverhampton. 5.0 Financial Implications 5.1 This report has financial implications to the Authority. Costs associated with the

proposed training and testing scheme include payment for the venue, travelling cost for visiting groups, cost of translation services and hire of an appropriate vehicle for the wheel chair clamping test. These costs will be approximately £3850.00 per annum. External funding for this cost is being investigated through Black Country Tourism, who have indicated that funds may be made available for driver training, which links into promoting tourism for Wolverhampton.

6.0 Equalities Implications 6.1 This report impacts on the Councils Equal Opportunities Policy. The scheme is intended

to develop and improve the service offered by Private Hire/Hackney Carriage drivers from all ethnic groups. Additionally, the scheme will ensure that the service provided by Private Hire and Hackney Carriage drivers to users from minority groups is more inclusive.

An Equality Impact Assessment has been undertaken in relation to this scheme and has

included the following activities.

• Consultation and gathering data. Consultation has taken place with members of the trade during working groups. This has included a presentation of the general outline of the training day. Views from members of the public have been gathered from complaints and comments received into licensing from a variety of formats. In addition meetings have taken place with other Council departments and organisations

• Findings. Issues have been identified in the current testing process, particularly

relating to an applicants ability to understand written and spoken English.

Driving Training and Test

• Action to be taken to reduce or eliminate the impact. The revised testing process

provides support for applicants by way of instruction and interaction during the training session which should assist applicants in understanding the information required to pass the test. A leaflet has been produced, which will be available in the 8 recognised community languages advising applicants of the standards and abilities required to successfully complete the application process.

• Monitoring whether the adverse impact has been reduced or eliminated. A

reporting process is in place for the proposed scheme, which will be continually monitored. The scheme will be initially in place for 1 year and will be formally assessed at the end of this period.

7.0 Environmental Implications 7.1 There are no direct environmental implications arising from this report.