Issue - meetings

That:

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

·       That public access to the report be immediate.

Councillor Hussain left the room at 7.42pm.

Councillor Davies introduced the item and moved the recommendation to adopt the revised Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy, incorporating changes recommended by the Regulatory Services Committee, including reclassifying slavery, false imprisonment and domestic violence within the serious violence category.

Councillor Edwards proposed the following amendment seconded by Councillor Cooper.

“Under the seventh paragraph on page 11, add:

“Hackney carriage and private hire drivers were added to the list regulated occupations by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order (Amendment) (No 2) 2002.

“Therefore, a conviction is never ‘spent’. This means that when deciding whether you can be licensed, we will always be able to consider a conviction you have had, regardless of how old it is.

“All types of criminal offences can be relevant, so we will take into account all convictions, regardless of your age at the time of the offence, sentence, or the type of offence.”

In paragraph 16.2.3, after ‘antisocial behaviour injunction/order’, add ‘Domestic Violence Protection Order’.

In the table at paragraph 19, under ‘Serious criminal offences’, add a new row that reads:

“

The amendment was put to the vote and declared as CARRIED by the chair with the voting being by General Assent.

An amendment was proposed by Councillor Cooper and seconded by Councillor Hudson:

“To restore the language around emissions standards and age to that in the 2022 version of the Hackney carriage and private hire licensing policy, namely in Appendix 4:

At paragraph 1, in the second bullet, replace ‘meet Euro 6 standards from 1 September 2026’ with ‘meet Euro 5 standards’.

At paragraph 1, delete the fourth bullet.

Delete paragraphs 3.1 and 3.2 and replace with:

“At the time a vehicle is first licensed (including changes of vehicles if not to a currently licensed vehicle), the vehicle must normally be less than 7 years of age. The vehicle’s age will be determined by the vehicle registration document. The age limit may be exceeded if the vehicle complies with all applicable standards.

“Once a vehicle reaches 10 years of age, the licence will only be renewed if the vehicle passes 3 compliance tests each year, at approximately 4-monthly intervals.”

And to make any consequential changes.”

Councillors, Cooper, Reed, Hearn, Ranger, Edwards, Fraser, Morris and Alley requested a recorded vote.

The amendment was put to the vote and declared as FELL by the chair with the voting as follows:

For Councillors, Alley, Campbell, Cooper, Edwards, Fraser, Hearn, Merali, D Morris, Ranger, Reed, Sims and Hudson (12)

Against Councillors, Davies, Drury, Giles-Medhurst, Grewal, Humphreys, Lloyd, Major, Martin, Mitchell, I Morris, Nelmes, Price, Raeburn, Rainbow, Scarth, Sian, Smith, Stungo, Tankard, Whateley-Smith, Winter. (21)

Abstained Councillor King. (1).

The substantive motion, incorporating Amendment 1 was then put to the vote. The motion was declared CARRIED by the chair, the voting being For 19, Against 0 and Abstentions  ...  view the full minutes text for item 94

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.

The Development Management Team Leader introduced the report and provided a brief update.

Key topics include the use of CCTV cameras inside taxis for safety purposes, which is currently optional but may become mandatory in the future. Advertising on vehicles is allowed but restricted to company-related advertising and requires Council approval.

The conversation addressed licensing fees, noting they are relatively high compared to other areas due to inclusive costs like knowledge tests, with potential future reviews discussed in light of the local government reorganisation (LGR).

The knowledge test content is under review to reflect satellite navigation technology and emphasise understanding of the highway code and policies.

Safeguarding measures for drivers transporting vulnerable groups, including annual safeguarding tests were confirmed by officers.

The discussion also covered vehicle age limits, particularly for wheelchair accessible taxis, with concerns about losing accessible vehicles as age limits tighten.

Taxi ranks and their locations were also discussed, highlighting the importance of encouraging taxi usage and driver recruitment, with considerations about funding and placement of additional ranks.

The Committee also discussed reporting procedures for concerns involving adults, suggesting improvements such as displaying emergency contact numbers on driver badges for quicker access.

Councillor Ciaran Reed proposed an amendment to table 19. of the policy; to move the two offences titled ‘Slavery, abduction, false imprisonment etc.’, ‘Any offence that can be categorised as domestic violence’ into the ‘Serious violence’ offence category.

Councillor Harry Davies moved Option 2 of the recommendation as set out in the report with the amendment to move the offences titled ‘Slavery, abduction, false imprisonment etc.’, and ‘Any offence that can be categorised as domestic violence’ into the ‘Serious violence’ offence category.

On being put to the Committee, the motion was declared CARRIED by the Chair, the voting being by general assent.

RESOLVED:

Recommendation

That members of the Committee:

• 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.