Agenda item

The Director of Neighbourhood and Environmental services submits a report to update the Commission on the result of the Taxi Vehicle Age Policy Consultation results and the next steps.

The Chair announced that due to the large number of members of the public in attendance to hear the finding of the Taxi Vehicle Age Policy Consultation, this item would be taken first on the agenda.

The Director of Neighbourhood and Environmental Services submitted a report to update the Committee on the findings from the consultation that had taken place between 15^th January 2024 and 24^th February 2024.

The Licensing Manager (Policy and Applications) presented the report. It was noted that:

·       1311 responses had been received via the online consultation portal, however 595 were discounted as there had been multiple responses from the same respondents.

·       In addition responses had also been received directly from the Guide Dogs Charity and Leicester City Council Transportation Team.

·       Comments noted in the responses relating to increasing the age of for new vehicles, many respondents commented that buying a new car is too expensive and that the cost-of-living crisis was impacting their livelihood.

·       Comments were also made about licences being issued by the City of Wolverhampton Council (CWC) and the impact that this was having on the taxi trade in Leicester. CWC has a more relaxed age policy allowing vehicles up to the age of 12 to be licensed with no restriction on entry age.

·       Hackney Carriage respondents stated that the cost of buying a newer vehicle suitable to be a Hackney Carriage was prohibitive, making it impossible to afford.

·       Although the vast majority of respondents had asked for the upper age for licensed vehicles to be increased to 15 years, the comments did not necessarily reflect this. Respondents had requested the same age as Wolverhampton 14 years. However this age was incorrect as it was currently 12 years. Some respondents referred to keeping the age limit the same as the current policy or only until the age of 12, which was the temporary policy in place at the moment.

·       Private Hire Vehicles showed a fairly even spread across the age range, with an average of 5 years. This meant that the impact of a change in age policy would not be immediate. If the entry age for new vehicles is increased then this would benefit licence holders wishing to replace their existing vehicle, for example due to an accident or mechanical issue.

·       Hackney Carriages tended to be older, with a higher proportion aged 9 years or more. Any increase in the upper age limit for vehicles to remain licensed would have an immediate impact on the Hackney Carriage fleet. A change to the entry age of vehicles should enable those who do need a replacement vehicle to source a vehicle more easily.

·       Vehicles that were over the age of 11 that have been relicensed under the temporary policy had been required to undergo an additional inspection at the Vehicle Testing Station, so that they are tested every 4 months instead of every 6 months.

Benchmarking work had been completed with a number of local authorities who had reviewed their vehicle age policies in light of the guidance but also due to the impact that cross border hiring had on their licence holders. The aim being to retain their licensed drivers and vehicles and maintain control over the quality and safety of the vehicles that are working in their areas.

The Legal Advisor to the Committee gave advice on their options available and clarified that their decision is to give comment on the proposed options and the final decision would fall with the Deputy City Mayor, for Housing, Economy and Neighbourhoods.

The Chair led on the Member discussions and discussed the appendices as a group. The Chair stated he would agree in line with the consultations findings and support what the Council has recommended.

Members comments:

·       Members showed concern that if restrictions were imposed, it could encourage drivers to obtain licenses through other Councils.

·       Newer vehicles had better emissions and general safety.

·       The economics aren’t currently available at the moment for more vehicles to be electric.

·       More work needs to be done with nearby authorities, as Leicester Drivers are losing out on work from other licensed drivers.

·       Safety was the paramount concern in Leicester, Wolverhampton are the competition and Leicester’s standards are much higher and safer.

·       Evidence of MOTs for older vehicles should be every 4 months based on the data provided.

·       Drivers engaged with Leicester City Council a year ago, surrounding cities license saloon vehicles as Hackney Carriages. Data needs to be compared to nearby cities such as Nottingham, Derby, Coventry and Wolverhampton.

Moved by Councillor Singh Johal, Seconded by Councillor Pickering:

That the Licensing and Public Safety Committee recommend:

-       A vehicle can be registered for the first time up to 9 years of age.

-       Vehicles to have a 15 year age limit.

-       From age 12 years, vehicles must be inspected 3 times per year.