Agenda item

Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy

Minutes:

The Principal Licensing Officer introduced the item. Panther Taxis thanked the council for considering the trade during its proposals and the effects of the global pandemic on drivers’ ability to purchase new vehicles.

 

The Committee noted the representation from Panther Taxis that many diesels have selective catalytic reduction technology, which brings the emissions ratings of diesel vehicles more in line with petrol vehicles. It was further remarked that by banning the purchase of diesels across the board, there was a potential for inadvertently denying drivers a chance to buy plug-in diesel hybrids. However, Cllr Hunt explained to the Committee that plug-in hybrids revert to their diesel engine after 45-50 miles without charging, so are not as low on emissions as they may appear. The Committee further noted that the emissions can be worse than diesel standard cars because a plug-in hybrid has a heavy battery that increases fuel consumption and emissions.

 

It was remarked that due to the covid pandemic, taxi drivers had been operating on extremely low incomes, and that although it would have been reasonable under normal circumstances to have expected drivers to purchase new hybrids, given the circumstances an alteration of the policy to allow older vehicles would provide the drivers an opportunity to recoup their earnings and increase the green fleet.

 

The Committee noted that South Cambridgeshire District Council had tried to align its policies with Cambridge City Council to ensure that drivers working across both authorities had a uniform set of conditions to abide by, and it was agreed that this would be continued where possible, but that flexibility was required.

 

Existing Policy Vehicle Restrictions

 

Cllr Deborah Roberts proposed the following policy alterations, which were seconded by Cllr Mark Howell:

 

  • A new petrol vehicle will only be granted a licence if it is under 4 years old until 1 December 2023.

This was unanimously agreed by the Committee.

  • A new diesel engine vehicle will only be granted a new licence if it is under 4 years old and wheelchair accessible until 1 December 2023.

This was unanimously agreed by the Committee.

  • A new hybrid vehicle will only be granted if it is under 4 years old until 1 December 2023.

This was agreed by the Committee, Cllr Peter McDonald abstained.

 

The following items were agreed by the Licensing Committee unanimously.

 

Existing Policy Safeguarding

Current Policy/Matter for Consideration

Decision of the Committee

Existing drivers, operators and vehicle proprietors must undertake safeguarding course within 12 months of Policy, and on renewal with the pass date no later than 3 months prior to renewal.

.

 

Agreed that:

All existing drivers, vehicle proprietors and operators to undertake a safeguarding course within 12 months, and all new applicants prior to licensing. A refresher course may be required.

 

Proposal -  Policy Driving Experience 2.4

To increase Minimum driving licence of 12 months to 3 years to enhance customer safety. (remove condition 2.4 d) and amend 2.9 a) accordingly).

 

Agreed that the condition should read:

2.4d) An applicant (for a Private Hire or Hackney Carriage) must have held a valid full United Kingdom issued Driving Licence for at least 3 years. Therefore the minimum age a person could be eligible to apply is 20 years of age.

 

Proposal -  References  2.6

To remove this requirement as part of the application process.

 

 

Agreed that this requirement should be removed.

 

Proposal -  Surrender of Licences  2.23

Surrender of Licence would be accepted in exceptional cases only, and not where the licence holder is subject to current investigation and/or legal proceedings.

 

Agreed

 

 

Proposal -  Hackney Carriage Vehicles 3.6 c) and 3.16

All existing hackney carriages to be white and WAV by December 2023.

Any newly licensed vehicles to meet this standard on implementation of the Policy changes.

 

Agreed to align the vehicle related amendments by 1 December 2023.

 

 

 

Proposal -  General Vehicle conditions - 3.12, 3.16, 3.19, 3.27

3.12 Certificate of Compliance – removal of 3.12 b) six monthly testing

 

Agreed: that a Certificate of Compliance that is no older than1 month at the date of application for both new and renewal. A second test will only be required where advisories on the MOT are noted or reported concerns raised.

3.16 Accessibility – remove the terms “disabled people” and replace with “wheelchair users”.

Agreed

 

3.19 Exempt vehicles, executive chauffeur services. Delete the word(s) “and plate” so that an alternative identification could be sourced in line with the review of the plate production materials.

Agreed revision: to amend to read “and plate or identification” to ensure that any alternative system does not compromise customer safety or visibility of identification of the vehicle.

3.27 Age Limits; The current policy stipulates a 9-year age limit for all vehicles from December 2021, considering the pandemic and to continue to offer support to the trade propose this is moved to 1 December 2023.

 

Agreed. In order to support the trade following the pandemic, it is proposed that allowing an additional two years for drivers to change their vehicles would be a reasonable step and would support the Council’s Business Plan priority area of supporting the local economy to recover post-pandemic.

3.27 (i) (and elsewhere in the documents) Delete the reference made to aligning with City of Cambridge Policy .

 

Agreed.

Whilst Members wished to see continued partnership working, there was no need to mention such in the Policy.

Appendix D (i) – remove “and to an angle of at least 60 degrees” (doors).

Agreed.

 

Appendix D (i) insert new requirement

Maximum number of seats

All vehicles licensed to carry in excess of four passengers will only be licensed where:

(i) the access and egress of passengers can be achieved without the need to remove existing seating, and

(ii) all seats are fitted with seat belts in accordance with legal or manufacturer standards, and

(iii) the height between the seat and the foot well of the rear seats is consistent.

Agreed. (Effective 1 December 2021).

 

Proposal -  Amendments to Appendices and Driver Handbook

Appendix A Code of Conduct

 

Delete duplications at 12, 16 and 25 (Competency Test, Safeguarding and DBS update). as these are covered elsewhere in the Policy and/or conditions.

 

Agreed.

 

 

Appendix E Private Hire Exemptions

 

1.     Remove the word “plate” and replace “notice” with “certificate”

2.     Delete not required

3.     Delete “internal licence”

4.     Delete “internal plate”

5.     Replace “notice” with “certificate”

 

Agreed amendments as per 3.19 above.

Driver Handbook

 

31. Competency Test

 

Scope to move to an external provider which offers combined competency with driving skills, so replace c) course as approved by the Council. Delete the rest in this section.

 

32. Replace b) with as approved by the Council.  Delete the rest of this section.

 

 

Agreed.

 

Administrative changes only to reflect move to online assessments.

 

34. References – proposed this requirement is removed as above at 2.6

Agreed.

39. DBS

 

Reword “Applicants are required to produce an original enhanced DBS certificate to  a) Applicants are required to apply online for an enhanced DBS …

Delete b), Reword c) The Authority will require evidence of your identity to complete the online DBS ….

Agreed.

Members noted that there is no compromise to the existing standard of checks and is an administrative amendment only.

 

Existing Policy Vehicle Restrictions

As of 1 December 2023, a licence will be renewed for a petrol or diesel vehicle, only if the vehicle is less than 9 years old and complies with at least the Euro 5 emission standards limiting CO, NOX and particle matter emissions introduced in September 2011. Please see Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Handbook for current criteria.

Agreed.

In order to support the trade following the pandemic, it was proposed that allowing an additional two years for drivers to change their vehicles would be a reasonable step and would support the Council’s Business Plan priority area of supporting the local economy to recover in the post-pandemic period.

 

Any newly licensed vehicle must be ULEV or Zero emission from 1 December 2021

 

Agreed.

Members discussed at length the results of the combined CCC/SCDC project and heard how of the 17 proposed sites for electric vehicle charging points in South Cambridgeshire, none had progressed and that most charging points were located in Cambridge City.  Due to this situation and the high cost of drivers having to switch to an ULEV/zero emission vehicle, the Committee agreed it was appropriate to move the implementation date to 1 December 2023. It was also agreed that the Committee would review this policy before 1 December 2023.

 

 

Supporting documents: