Agenda item

To consider a report of the Assistant Executive Director Environmental Enforcement.

The Assistant Executive Director of Environmental Enforcement submitted a report outlining the consultation process recently undertaken in relation to proposed changes to policies and conditions relating to licensed private hire and hackney carriage vehicles and drivers, a copy of which was appended to the report.  The report also included a summary of all the proposed changes together with the perceived benefits and risks associated with them.

It was reported that a 12 week public consultation, in respect of the proposed amendments, commenced in September 2016 via the Council’s “Big Conversation” during which anyone could respond to give their views.  A copy of the consultation document and all responses which had been received was appended to the report.  Tameside Owners and Drivers Association, representatives of which were in attendance at the meeting, had submitted a comprehensive report in response to the consultation, which was considered by the Panel. 

The Panel received a presentation, which provided a statistical analysis of the responses to the questions contained within the public consultation. 

With regards to lowering the age limit for wheelchair accessible vehicles from the current five years to eight years, it was explained that the current policy was in place for public safety reasons and to improve air quality.  Taxis were subject to hard use and high mileage therefore allowing older vehicles to be licensed increased the risk of a vehicle being deemed not roadworthy.  Older vehicles also had higher levels of emissions which could add to the air quality problems in Greater Manchester.  Representatives of Tameside Owners and Drivers Association explained that it was difficult to source suitable vehicles five years and under and they were very expensive to purchase.  Allowing drivers to purchase slightly older vehicles gave a greater choice of affordable vehicles which, due to the purpose built nature of wheelchair accessible vehicles, were still in very good condition and could safely transport passengers.  It would also encourage more drivers to purchase wheelchair accessible vehicles, which would benefit customers.

Currently there were no conditions which prevented the Authority from issuing licences to vehicles which had been repaired following a “write off” after an accident.  It was proposed to introduce a policy to address this issue subject to certain exemptions.  Tameside Owners and Drivers Association had requested that existing conditions be amended to allow drivers to replace their vehicles with one of a similar or younger age (as long as the vehicle was below 10 years old) following a “write off” or if the vehicle had been stolen.

It was proposed to increase the number of vehicles which the Council would license as a hackney carriage.  This would include a range of rear loading vehicles, which had reduced passenger capacity; however, this would provide drivers with better value for money options and provide the public with improved choice to meet their individual needs.  Photographs of examples of the types of vehicles which could be included were shown to the Panel.

The Council had adopted an “Acceptable Condition Policy” in 2011, which required vehicles ten years and older to be maintained to a higher standard in order to protect members of the public and ensure the vehicle was sufficiently maintained.  It was proposed to extend this policy to include all vehicles irrespective of their age.  A revised policy relating to the application of the “Fit and Proper Test” for licensed drivers and operators, in particular the addition of a section relating to “non-conviction related” matters, was also proposed.  This would further assist Members of Speakers Panel (Licensing) in their decision making process and had been adopted by the majority of Greater Manchester authorities.  A standard policy and set of guidelines would improve fairness and consistency across the region whilst raising standards and improving public safety.

New applicants were required to pass an English Language and local knowledge test, which was administered by officers in the Licensing Department.  It was proposed to outsource this to an appropriate college or training facility to ensure fairness and high standards.  It was further proposed to introduce a policy encouraging the use of CCTV in licensed vehicles, which would offer additional protection to members of the public and licensed drivers, could help to prevent crime against drivers and provide useful evidence in the event of a complaint.

Members of the Panel carefully considered all of the written submissions and the information which had been presented to them.  They commended the thorough consultation process and supported the proposals.  With regards to the age of wheelchair accessible vehicles, the Panel commented that the lower age limit (currently 5 years) could be extended to 7 years, as long as the conditions for hackney carriages and private hire conditions were amended to include an emissions standard for all vehicles and a requirement that all vehicles comply with the standards currently contained in the “acceptable condition standard”.  The Panel accepted that there would be benefits in extending the current fleet of hackney carriage taxis to include several smaller types of rear-loading vehicles and the use of an appropriate college or training provider to administer the English Language and local knowledge test.

RECOMMENDED:

(i)         That the report and presentation be noted;

(ii)        That the Panel supports the proposals relating to the review of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policies and Conditions subject to the following caveats:-

(a)  That consideration be given to amending the age limit of wheelchair accessible vehicles to 7 years; and

(b)  That emission testing of all vehicles be introduced.