Issue - meetings

The Committee considered the report of Mr John Littlemore, the Head of Housing and Community Services in which he advised that at the last meeting the Committee had agreed to defer implementation of the Emissions Standards Policy for hackney and private hire vehicles to enable focus groups to take place with trade members.

It was noted that two meetings were held and well attended and it had been clear that the consultation process had been misunderstood as were the implications of specific parts of the policy.  This had been distilled down to an issue with the rate at which existing licenced Hackney vehicles would have to be replaced with either hybrid or fully electric vehicles.

Mr Neil Cox, the Hackney Carriage trade representative gave a statement to the Committee and commented as follows:-

·  The trade request that the current policy of 15 years maximum licensed vehicle life should remain, particularly for existing licensees.

·  Concern that existing vehicles would need to be replaced by
1 January 2025.

·  That technology was moving forward but there was still not the
infrastructure in place for enough charging points.

·  That Item 9 on the agenda should not become part of the taxi policy at this point.

In response to questions from Members, Officers responded that:-

·  The Policy would relate to all private hire and hackney carriage vehicles.  However, private hire vehicles can currently only be licensed up to six years old.

·  Officers are proposing to re-run the public consultation for a further 4 weeks borough wide to clarify parts of the draft Emission Standards and Suitability for Use of Maidstone Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicles with trade members and public.  A report would then be brought back to the Committee at its first meeting in June and then sent onto the Communities, Housing and Environment Committee for approval of the policy.

·  That the consultation could include a question to the public and hackney carriage proprietor who are renewing vehicle licences in the 2^nd and 3^rd phases asking for comment on possible fitting of  parking heaters to vehicles in order that vehicles are not kept running in the High Street.

RESOLVED: That

1.  The decision on the draft Emission Standard Policy be deferred to enable a further 4 week consultation period on the timing of implementation as it relates to existing licensed vehicles after the research is carried out on parking heaters to allow formulation of an appropriate question on that.

2.  Delegated authority be given to the Head of Housing and Community Services to consult with the public and proprietors of hackney carriage vehicles on the issue of fitting parking heaters to vehicles, subject to them renewing during phases 2 and 3.

Voting:  Unanimous