Agenda item

The report of the Corporate Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance) sets out proposed changes to the conditions applicable to our licensed Hackney Carriage vehicles, with a revised set of conditions in Appendix 1 of the report to be considered by Members and recommended to Full Council for adoption.

The report of the Corporate Director (Pubic Protection, Planning and Governance) set out the work carried out in respect of the proposed changes to the conditions applicable to the licensed Hackney Carriage vehicles as well as the revised set of conditions for the licensing of hackney carriage vehicles in Appendix 1.

Importantly the proposed changes included the conditions that all new vehicles (after 8 years) would be silver Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAVs).  The Council was the only district in Hertfordshire and one of seven in the whole country without WAVs, a situation which opened up the Council to legal challenge.

During discussion Officers clarified several points in response to Member questions:

·         The designated list would be drawn up by the Council and all new Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAVS) would be added to the list and overtime the whole fleet would consist of WAVS.

·         The specified silver colour of the vehicles and livery would apply to new vehicles only (WAVs) and not the existing fleet.  The first crest would be free to drivers and then there would be a nominal charge for replacements.

·         Clause 2.7 of the conditions stated that “The Hackney Carriage vehicle must be capable of carrying not less than four passengers plus a person confined to a wheelchair (“four plus one passengers”).  Officers agreed to make it clearer as it was a requirement that the new WAVs could carry up to four passengers as well as a person using a wheelchair.

·         Members were keen that there would be room on the taxi ranks for the WAVs and that they were affordable to drivers.  Officer confirmed that the size of the new vehicles would be no greater than a standard saloon and they could be purchased for £12,000 plus VAT (which was in contrast to some vehicles on the current fleet costing £40,000).

·         Members were keen to check a thorough consultation had taken place. Officers confirmed that there were over 1000 consultees and they had just over 500 responses back (nearly 100 from the trade and 400 from the public, of which the majority of the trade were against the new conditions and the majority of the public were for the conditions.  

There was a discussion about cross border drivers and Members wanted to know if the Council could impose restrictions and asked Officers to speak to other authorities. Officers said that they appreciated the frustration of the trade. Cross border drivers were in line with the Deregulation Act 2015 and had made it harder for the trade to earn a living. In addition they often did not undergo the stringent process of obtaining a licence that was required in Welwyn Hatfield which put public safety at risk. The recent guidance from the Department of Transport had also highlighted the issues with deregulation.  In essence, however, there was nothing that the Officers could do to prevent cross border drivers. 

Members suggested that the Secretary of State for Transport could be written to. The Executive Member (Public Health, Governance and Climate Change) expressed her appreciation of the trades’ frustration and the Committee were in agreement that the Secretary of State for Transport be written to.   

Members highlighted that the new conditions would likely improve the business of the drivers, as Hertfordshire County Council required WAVs and the livery would make local taxis easily identifiable for local people who would also feel safer.

It was then proposed and seconded to agree with the Officer recommendation and

RESOLVED:

            (10 Voting for and 1 Abstained)

(1)  That the Committee consider the revised Standard Conditions for the Licensing of Hackney Carriage Vehicles (Appendix 1) and recommend them to Full Council for adoption.

(2)  That the Committee consider the proposed implementation date for the revised Standard Conditions for the Licensing of Hackney Carriage of 1April 2020 and recommend this date to Full Council for adoption.