Agenda item - Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Trade Ethnicity Monitoring

Report of the Head of Planning and Public Protection (copy attached)

33.1       The Committee considered a report of the Head of Planning and Public Protection setting out the results of the Ethnicity Monitoring of the Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Trade for 2009/10.

33.2       Councillor Wrighton enquired regarding measures being undertaken to encourage more women to become taxi drivers. Councillor Marsh endorsed the importance of positively encouraging women into the trade. Councillor C Theobald also concurred in that view. The Chairman Councillor Cobb stated that all applications were processed as they were received, women were not discriminated against.

33.3       In answer to questions it was explained that the trade was diverse and that all drivers had to have command of English comparable to an 11/12 year old. Councillor Hawkes sought confirmation that all drivers had to complete the knowledge and considered that as drivers were picking up passengers all day long that  their command of English was likely to improve rapidly.

33.4       RESOLVED – That the contents of the report be noted.