Councillor Moore to move:

This Council notes:

• That learner drivers in Reading and across the country are facing unacceptably long delays in securing driving test appointments, with average waiting times far exceeding the DVSA’s target of nine weeks.
• That this is causing significant distress and disruption to young people, students, apprentices, and those seeking employment who rely on obtaining a driving licence for work or education.
• Reports from the BBC and other media highlight that the Reading test centre has among the worst delays in the country, with some learners waiting over six months for a test slot.
• That concerns have been raised in both the last and current Parliaments by MPs of many parties, who have challenged Ministers on both the long delays and the role of third-party booking services in worsening availability.
• That parliamentary questions have highlighted the Government’s limited action to address these issues and the lack of regulation or enforcement around third-party software tools that snap up appointments to resell them.

This Council believes:

• That the Government must take urgent action to bring down waiting times for practical driving tests and ensure fair access for all learners.
• That the practice of third-party software companies bulk-booking or reselling test slots is exploitative and undermines the integrity of the DVSA booking system.
• That local young people in Reading are being unfairly disadvantaged, with consequences for education, employment, and social mobility.

This Council therefore resolves to:

1.   Call on the Government and the Department for Transport to publish a clear action plan to reduce waiting times for driving tests nationwide, specifically in Reading.

2.   Call for urgent reform of the DVSA booking system to prevent third-party software from monopolising test appointments and to protect access for ordinary learners.

3.   Request the Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State for Transport, and to Reading’s Members of Parliament, urging them to take immediate steps to resolve this growing crisis for learner drivers.

4.   Promote awareness of this issue locally and support efforts by MPs and Councillors to campaign for fair access to driving tests for all.

Pursuant to Notice, a motion was moved by Councillor Moore and seconded by Councillor Thompson.

The following amendment was moved by Councillor Ennis and seconded by Councillor Woodward and CARRIED:

‘Delete all after ‘This Council notes’ and insert:

·         That learner drivers in Reading and across the country have faced unacceptably long delays in securing driving test appointments for a number of years due to the inactivity and lack of interest in supporting learner drivers from the previous Conservative Government, with average waiting times far exceeding the DVSA’s target of nine weeks.

·         This has caused significant distress and disruption to young people, students, apprentices, and those seeking employment who rely on obtaining a driving licence for work or education.

·         This Council welcomes and places on record their thanks for our three Labour Members of Parliament in successfully campaigning to obtain a new permanent and expanded driving test centre at Pacific House, South Reading

·         That this new Labour Government has taken urgent action to bring down waiting times for practical driving tests and ensure fair access for all learners with plans to increase driving test capacity and make available an additional 10.000 tests per month at centres across the country as well as cracking down in test-buying bots.

·         That the practice of third-party software companies bulk-booking or reselling test slots is being addressed and this will benefit learner drivers in Reading and elsewhere

·         That local young people in Reading will benefit from the new test centre and this will create advantages  for education, employment, and social mobility.

This Council therefore resolves to:

1.    Work with the Labour Government and the Department for Transport to maintain and develop the clear action plan to reduce waiting times for driving tests nationwide, specifically in Reading.

2.    Request the Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State for Transport, and to Reading’s Members of Parliament, thanking them for taking immediate steps to resolve this Conservative caused crisis for learner drivers.

3.    Promote awareness of this issue and achievement of the new Driving Test Centre in Reading locally and thank the local Labour MPs for campaign for fair access to driving tests for all.’

The amended substantive motion was then put to the vote and CARRIED as follows:

Resolved -

This Council notes:

·         That learner drivers in Reading and across the country have faced unacceptably long delays in securing driving test appointments for a number of years due to the inactivity and lack of interest in supporting learner drivers from the previous Conservative Government, with average waiting times far exceeding the DVSA’s target of nine weeks.

·         This has caused significant distress and disruption to young people, students, apprentices, and those seeking employment who rely on obtaining a driving licence for work or education.

·         This Council welcomes and places on record their thanks for our three Labour Members of Parliament in successfully campaigning to obtain a new permanent and expanded driving test centre at Pacific House, South Reading

·         That this new Labour Government has taken urgent action to bring down waiting times for practical driving tests and ensure fair access for all learners with plans to increase driving test capacity and make available an additional 10.000 tests per month at centres across the country as well as cracking down in test-buying bots.

·         That the practice of third-party software companies bulk-booking or reselling test slots is being addressed and this will benefit learner drivers in Reading and elsewhere

·         That local young people in Reading will benefit from the new test centre and this will create advantages for education, employment, and social mobility.

This Council therefore resolves to:

1.    Work with the Labour Government and the Department for Transport to maintain and develop the clear action plan to reduce waiting times for driving tests nationwide, specifically in Reading.

2.    Request the Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State for Transport, and to Reading’s Members of Parliament, thanking them for taking immediate steps to resolve this Conservative caused crisis for learner drivers.

3.    Promote awareness of this issue and achievement of the new Driving Test Centre in Reading locally and thank the local Labour MPs for campaign for fair access to driving tests for all.