The Senior Licensing Officer introduced the report and stated that a consultation on two proposed changes to the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy had been completed in November. The proposed changes included the permanent amendment to entry level vehicles of up to four years old and mileage up to 60,000 miles to be licensed and for private hire vehicles to be licensed until 8 years old and for hackney carriage vehicle providers to be required to offer card and contactless payments at all times. It was highlighted that the proposed amendments had been well received by the Taxi trade and that the policy would run until February 2029.

The need for the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing policy to come into effect on 11 January 2024 and that the proposed requirement for Hackney Carriage drivers to provide card machines was to be implemented as from 15 February 2024 was clarified.

It was stated that the deadline for Hackney Carriage drivers to provide card and contactless payment machines from 15 February 2024 allowed hackney carriage providers sufficient time to obtain a viable machine. Some exceptions to the deadline could be made to hackney carriage providers under extenuating circumstances.

The Committee welcomed the report and highlighted the requirement for Hackney Carriage drivers to provide card and contactless payment machines.

RESOLVED: That

1.  The information contained in the taxi policy consultation – card payment and vehicle age document attached as Appendix 1, be noted.

2.  The draft Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy at Appendix 2 be approved for adoption.

3.  The amendment concerning vehicle age and mileage be immediate, with the mandatory requirement to provide the new payment facility to be implemented from 15 February 2024.