Taxi/Private Hire Drivers and Operators

The request was successful.

David Littlejohn

Dear North Lanarkshire Council,

Under the provisions of FOI legislation can you please provide the following with regards to private hire/ taxi driver licence and operator licence applications.

1. Details of the checks undertaken during the vetting of applicants, excluding the vetting undertaken by Police Scotland
2. A copy of your vetting standard operating procedure
3. Does the vetting include checking if the applicant has previously held or had a similar licence refused, revoked, suspended etc from another licensing authority?
4. If no vetting, apart from that undertaken by Police Scotland, takes place, has a risk assessment detailing the risks of allowing the granting of licences been undertaken?
5. If a risk assessment has been completed please provide a copy?
6. If no risk assessment has been undertaken please provide details of why not?
7. Details of the training undertaken by all employees involved in the vetting procedures, not including the vetting undertaken by Police Scotland.

Yours faithfully,

David Littlejohn

McKay Neil, North Lanarkshire Council

Dear Mr. Littlejohn

I acknowledge receipt of your email which is receiving attention.

I shall contact you again when I am in a position to respond more fully to your request.

Yours sincerely

Neil McKay
Freedom of Information Co-ordinator
Democratic and Legal Services
North Lanarkshire Council
Civic Centre
Windmillhill Street
Motherwell
ML1 1 AB
Tel : 01698 302 484

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Hazarika Sandra, North Lanarkshire Council

Dear Mr. Littlejohn

Request for Information

I refer again to your e mail dated 2 April 2017 seeking information relative to taxi/private hire drivers and operators.

Having investigated, my response to your questions 1 to 7 is as follows:-

(1) None.

(2) Not applicable.

(3) Applicants are required to declare on the application form whether they have been granted or refused a licence for the same or similar activity.

(4) No.

(5) Not applicable.

(6) Application procedures are laid down by legislation and a vetting report is received from Police Scotland for every applicant.

(7) Not applicable.

I can advise that North Lanarkshire Council, having regard to the provisions of Section 21 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, has established a procedure whereby any person who has requested information and is in any way dissatisfied with the decision on that request, can within forty working days require a review of that decision by writing to the Head of Business for Legal and Democratic Solutions, Civic Centre, Windmillhill Street, Motherwell ML1 1AB. Accordingly, if you are dissatisfied with this decision and seek such review please write to the Head of Business for Legal and Democratic Solutions.

I would advise, also, that in terms of Section 47 of the Act a person who is dissatisfied with a notice given by the local authority under Section 21 of the Act - ie. a notice following a review of a decision by a local authority, or by the failure of a local authority to give such a notice - may make application to the Scottish Information Commissioner for a decision as to whether, in any respect specified in that application, the request for information to which the requirement relates has been dealt with in accordance with the Act. Such an application must be in writing or in another form which, by reason of it having some permanency is capable of being used for subsequent reference, must state the name of the applicant and an address for correspondence and must specify the request for information to which the requirement for review relates, the matter which gave rise to the applicant’s dissatisfaction with the original decision of the local authority and the matter which gives rise to the applicant’s dissatisfaction with the decision on review by the local authority or the failure of the local authority to issue such a decision. The Scottish Information Commissioner can be contacted as follows:-

Scottish Information Commissioner
Kinburn Castle
Doubledykes Road
St. Andrew’s
KY16 9DS
www.itspublicknowledge.info/Appeal
email: [email address]

I hope this information is sufficient for your purpose. If, however, you require further information – or I can assist in any other way – please let me know.

Yours sincerely

Sandra Hazarika
For Freedom of Information Co-ordinator
North Lanarkshire Council
Civic Centre
Motherwell
ML1 1AB

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