Comments

The change of payments options should be applied as soon as possible as all Hackney drivers have their sum up card reader with them. Most of them had this since 3 years. Because of no clear guidance from licencing authority, they just use for long fare and refuse for short fare. I mean honest driver like are always cheating be get on fare job.so please don't wait till 1st Feb just advise to use as soon as possible. I will salute you.

It’s needed now as most people don’t carry cash

Most if not all Hackneys have card machines, but some drivers mysteriously forget them when a short fare comes along. Compelling a card machine is meaningless.

As long as the council regularly checks that all have them do work because it's been used to turn small jobs away.

I am with all the changes

I think it’s necessary for everyone to be able to take card and cash payments

It gives the customer a choice

Card payments incur a fee so you are losing money on every transaction.

I believe that card payment should be available as a payment method in any taxi, as many people can only use card payment due to their needs. It can save time and reduce waiting times for customers. Offering card payment as an option, in addition to cash, provides a more comfortable and relaxed experience for passengers whenever they need to use a Hackney Carriage.

It’s Our Right to Make decisions to handle cash or card machine, it’s not right when taking control of people decisions, Cashless society isn’t the right society as to give more control to government that cannot be trusted

In this current day and age we are fortunate to have cars that are built very well and that have very low emissions. I believe that cars older than 4 years or with higher mileage that 60,000 should be allowed for entry. We all service our cars much more regularly than ordinary cars as we want to keep this fit and roadworthy for work. It would make it easy for drivers to service the town/local people if they could buy a car that is less expensive because the age is 5/6 years old or the mileage was below 90/100,000.

This has been Much needed and makes it far more accessible for people wanting to join the industry. It’s give people greater opportunity and a sense of ownership. The days of old cars breaking down and as long as the compliance is strictly adhered to this is a fantastic and progressive policy change.

In any other councils, the vehicle age is up to 7 years and can be used for 10 years. If Maidstone council could change vehicle age from 5 and exit age of vehicles 10 years of age

This should be increased. As a PHV driver it is far too expensive to purchase a car of those specifications. Other neighbouring councils have lower age restrictions such as 8 years and no mileage cap with it being licensed up to 10 years. Please consider something similar as 4 is still too expensive.

Given the enormous expense of new vehicles for high HC and PH, especially electric vehicles, the entry requirements should be relaxed to 5 years at first licensing and 10 years for the oldest for PH and 15 years for HCs.

It should really be about the mileage. I don’t see how the date of registration affects a cars ability to be useful for the purpose. You could have a car first registered 4 years and one day ago with a mere 2000 miles on the clock. Conversely a car with 59000 miles on the clock but only 3 years 364 days would be deemed suitable. Cut offs are great but perhaps limit it to miles only as this is a better indicator as to the condition of the vehicle, at least from a west and tear perspective. It makes a bit of a mockery of the car is then allowed to be on circuit for 8 years. Either a car is mechanically sound and fit for purpose, or it isn’t

I support entry time but I oppose Vehicle exit time. It should be Vehicle exit time for 10 years not 8 years

I support the policy change because of the ever-increasing cost of changing a vehicle and it also brings it more in line with other local boroughs

Long overdue policy updates. I think 6 years and 70000 start and 10 years end providing good condition

Provided the standard of the cabs is maintained

Private hire drivers should not be forced to receive payments by card machines

6 years- maximum age of new vehicles / 10 years- exit age of vehicles.

As the car modern vehicles are very reliable respectively the mileage limitation should at least be 100000,

These age and mileage limits are irrelevant. If a vehicle can pass its MOT test it should be possible to license it. Do away with them completely.

I believe this is still very strict considering how economical and safe car are made nowadays.

If the taxi is electric, they should not be limited mileage for the vehicle. As the electric taxi. Is emission fee so they’re for. They should be exempt from the mileage requirement

Gives the customer a Choice.

I think age of new vehicles should be increased to at least 5 years as it’s absolutely unfair to Maidstone badge holder as lots of Tonbridge and Malling can drive in Maidstone and making joke of Maidstone badge holder since they can plate older vehicles and also be able to work in Maidstone.

The new the car the better. To older cars are unreliable.

Allowing a higher mileage could result in taxis looking rundown.

3 years to 10years

As you may know, we have compliance tests every year alongside the MOT test. These measures ensure that the Council's taxis are consistently in excellent condition to serve our customers. New cars are more expensive and tend to remain roadworthy for a longer period compared to the past. Moreover, some other Councils offer licenses with longer durations. Consequently, many drivers may obtain their taxi licenses from other authorities and work for Maidstone companies. This could result in a significant loss for MBC, as they would need to pay licensing fees to other jurisdictions while still serving within our Borough.

Electric vehicles are expensive and costly as they always have to go to manufactures to be repaired and manufacturers costs are up the roof and they don’t carry out works on vehicles when they’ve been touched by other mechanics

I think 60,000 and an exit age of eight years for private hire vehicles. is a great decision

I think a ten years period for PHV is absolutely acceptable.