Issue - meetings

That:

·       Members Agree the revised Policy found at Appendix 3 and recommend that Full Council adopt the revised Policy (Option 1); or,

·       Members Agree to make minor revisions to the revised Policy and recommend that Full Council adopt the revised Policy (Option 2)

·       That public access to the report be immediate.

The Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy 2022 (“the Policy”) has been reviewed by officers as scheduled (non-statutory requirement).

In June 2025 officers presented the draft changes of the Policy to the Regulatory Service Committee (“the Committee”) and requested their support to commence a public consultation which was agreed.

A public consultation on the draft policy was undertaken from 1 August until 26 September. Officers also organised an event at Three Rivers House for all licenced operators on 12 September whereby views on the draft policy were discussed.

The public consultation received 9 representations in total.

In summarising the responses, the majority agreed to the draft changes to the emission and age standards of licenced vehicles, although concerns were raised regarding the cost implications of tightening standards further. Other responses received agreed about the use of saloon vehicles as Hackney Carriages and the introduction of an initial cap of three vehicles. A more detailed summary of the responses received can be found at Appendix 4.

Following the consultation, officers are seeking a change to the renewal age of vehicles which can be licenced by the authority, from no more than 12 years to no more than 15 years for vehicles which are purpose-built or fully wheelchair accessible vehicles (whether Hackney Carriage or private hire). Additionally, officers consider it reasonable to push back the date the Euro 6 emission standard is applied to new vehicle licences to September 2026, rather than April 2026.

Officers are now seeking agreement to the changes to the Policy, found at Appendix 3.

Recommendation

That members of the Committee:

·        Agree the revised Policy found at Appendix 3 and recommend that Full Council adopt the revised Policy (Option 1); or,

·        Agree to make minor revisions to the revised Policy and recommend that Full Council adopt the revised Policy (Option 2)

That public access to the report be immediate.