Agenda item

To consider a report by the Head of Planning, Public Protection and Countryside Services (copy enclosed) on the review of the existing age requirements for vehicles first licensed by the Council and recommendation to retain the current age policy for both new to fleet vehicles and existing fleet vehicles.

RESOLVED that –

(a)      the content of the report be noted;

(b)      the current age policy of new to fleet vehicles being under 5 years of age and any vehicle on fleet being removed at 12 years of age, unless grandfather rights rule applied up until 2024, be retained, and

(c)      officers be instructed to update the Licensing Committee of the details of the Welsh Government review of taxi standards at an appropriate time during 2023.

The Public Protection Business Manager (PPBM) submitted a report (previously circulated) on the review of the existing age requirements for vehicles first licensed by the Council and recommendation to retain the current age policy for both new to fleet and existing fleet vehicles.

The Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Policy had been approved by the Licensing Committee in December 2016, effective from 1 July 2017.  The policy included an age restriction on vehicles, namely all new to fleet vehicles must be a maximum of 5 years old, and any vehicle reaching the age of 12 years old must be removed.  The Committee had reviewed the vehicle age policy at their last meeting and in light of vehicle procurement issues, including cost and availability, had authorised officers to look into an interim process of delegation for determining new to fleet applications for vehicles over 5 years old and report back to the next meeting.  The Committee had also resolved to extend the grace period to allow already licensed vehicles reaching 12 years old to remain on fleet until July 2024, and to further consult on amending the vehicle age policy by relaxing both the new to fleet age and upper age limit.

The PPBM guided members through the detail of the report which included a breakdown of vehicle age across the fleet and considerable investment by proprietors to date, retail vehicle sales costs, industry standards, safety ratings, warranty cover and emissions.  Particular attention was drawn to the following –

·         relatively few vehicles remained on fleet that were over the 12-year threshold and of those that were the proprietors were able to take advantage of the grandfather rights grace period until 2024

·         a significant number of vehicles had been introduced to the fleet to date as a result of investment by proprietors

·         the increase in safety standards as vehicles technologically progressed

·         the Welsh Government review of taxi standards in Wales, and the impending white paper, which was likely to include vehicle age.

Given those considerations officers recommended that the current age policy for both new to fleet and existing fleet vehicles be retained and that an update on the Welsh Government’s review of taxi standards be provided at the appropriate time.

Members considered the report, again noting the potential impact on vehicle standards arising from the Welsh Government’s white paper on taxi legislation.  It was noted that the breakdown of vehicle ages across the licensed fleet demonstrated considerable investment by proprietors to date and that the current age policy had not been a deterrent, with the taxi industry buying vehicles for licensing purposes within those current age stipulations.  It was also noted that the grace period for vehicles already licensed had been extended to July 2024.  The intention of the vehicle age policy to modernise the current fleet of licensed vehicles to ensure high standards and safety of the travelling public was also highlighted.

As vehicle standards were within the scope of the Welsh Government’s white paper on taxi legislation, members considered it prudent to await the outcome of that consultation prior to reviewing vehicle age requirements given that any determination by the Committee at this time may subsequently be superseded.  Councillor Martyn Hogg queried whether it would be possible, in a future review of the vehicle age policy, to quantify the effects of carbon emissions on policy changes, and referred to a calculation which suggested the amount of carbon emitted in manufacturing a brand new electric vehicle equated to that emitted by a 10-year-old diesel vehicle over 40,000 miles.  The PPBM recommended awaiting the outcome of the Welsh Government’s white paper in the first instance before considering whether it would be possible to quantify carbon emissions as described.  The Fleet Services Manager added that safety was paramount and newer vehicles were generally safer than older ones.

Having considered all the information contained in the report the Committee –

RESOLVED that –

(a)       the content of the report be noted;

(b)       the current age policy of new to fleet vehicles being under 5 years of age and any vehicle on fleet being removed at 12 years of age, unless grandfather rights rule applied up until 2024, be retained, and

(c)        officers be instructed to update the Licensing Committee of the details of the Welsh Government review of taxi standards at an appropriate time during 2023.