Issue - meetings

The Senior Licensing Officer introduced the report, with the policy having been reviewed in accordance with the Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicles Standards that had been published in July 2020. The proposed changes were shown in Appendix 1 to the report. Prior to the adoption of the NR3 database, a consultation with trade members would occur.

The Committee were reminded of the Low Emissions Policy discussed in 2018, which had been paused due to the creation of the Council’s Biodiversity and Climate Change Working Group. The resulting action plan included that a carbon neutral policy be introduced within Licensing. The government ban on petrol and diesel vehicles from 2030 was noted, with the suggestion that the taxi vehicles be replaced with a carbon neutral vehicle once it reached the licensable time period end.

In response to questions, it was confirmed that the public consultation responses would be brought back to the Committee for review before the policy’s implementation. The licensable life of electric vehicles had not yet been decided, but multiple companies had been approached for further information on the vehicles’ lifespans. The location of the electric vehicle chargers had not yet been agreed.

RESOLVED: That

1.  The Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Standards introduced by Government in July 2020 be noted;

2.  The amendments proposed to the Taxi Licensing Policy 2019-2024, arising from the statutory standards including any minor amendments arising from typographical errors, clarification or feedback, be noted;

3.  A consultation period appropriate for the proposed amendments to allow for feedback from interested parties, be agreed;

4.  Consultation with the trade for the adoption and for the use of the NR3 register, be agreed;

5.  The carbon neutral vehicle policy be agreed, subject to the policy’s implementation date being considered within the public consultation on the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Taxi Licensing Policy 2021-2026;

6.  A further report to the Committee detailing any feedback, to request approval of the 2021-2026 Taxi Licensing Policy and agree a date for implementation, be agreed; and

7.  The Head of Housing and Community Services be given delegated powers, in conjunction with the Chair and vice-Chair, to undertake a review on the temporary extension of the 6-year and 15-year limit on private hire and hackney carriage vehicles, in light of the reduction in vehicle usage from the Covid-19 pandemic.