Report of the Principal Licensing Officer

The subject of the decision:

This report sought consideration of a review of the hackney carriage and private hire vehicle age limits contained within the Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy in order to improve standards and practices.

Alternative options considered:

The Committee was satisfied that a review of the age limits would be appropriate and a number of alternative approaches were considered.  Specifically, the Committee considered making distinctions based on different vehicle types (i.e. petrol, vehicle, electric).  The Committee concluded that the proposal was appropriate subject to the addition of a specific provision in respect of fully electric vehicles.  No further amendments were deemed necessary.

The reason for the decision:

The Committee considered the Director’s report in relation to the vehicle age limits contained within the Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy.

The Committee also considered the responses to a preliminary consultation undertaken with the hackney carriage and private hire trade in February 2019.  The Committee noted that only one of the consultees opposed a review of the vehicle age limits.

The Committee noted that the Council’s existing vehicle age limits were higher than the limits imposed by neighbouring authorities, thereby providing a potentially attractive proposition to proprietors operating outside the district of Hambleton.  The Committee was satisfied that a review of the age limits would be appropriate in order to address the potential risk to public safety and the sustainability of the existing trade.

The Committee considered the impact that the proposals may have on air quality within the district.  The Committee noted that the Council was expected to consider to what extent the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy could support any local environmental initiatives.  The Committee was satisfied that any eventual reduction to the vehicle age limits would have a positive impact on air quality.  The Committee considered whether or not to amend the proposal to further reduce the age limit pertaining to diesel vehicles.  The Committee noted that the existing proposal, if approved, would ensure that all vehicles licensed by the Council would possess Euro V technology and all vehicles licensed after 1 September 2020 would possess Euro VI technology.  On that basis, the Committee was satisfied that the existing proposal adequately promoted the Council’s environmental initiatives.

The Committee noted that the purchase cost of electric vehicles may discourage members of the trade from licensing any such vehicles for private hire and public hire purposes.  The Committee noted that steps should be taken to mitigate costs where wider social benefits are provided.  The Committee was satisfied that arrangements should be made to encourage the use of electric vehicles and therefore concluded that the proposal should be amended to include provision for fully electric vehicles to be subject an upper age limit of 10 years.

The Committee noted that wheelchair accessible vehicles were not currently subject to the general age restrictions contained within the policy.  The Committee was satisfied that the exemption was intended to ensure that proprietors were not discouraged from licensing wheelchair accessible vehicles and therefore concluded that the exemption should remain in place.

The Committee was satisfied that the proposed amendments would be likely to improve standards and therefore authorised the commencement of the consultation in order to gauge the views of the trade.

THE DECISION:

That a full consultation be authorised to be carried out in relation to the hackney carriage and private hire vehicle age limit proposals (as amended by Members) on the understanding that the matter will be referred back to the Committee for consideration of any responses.