ROUND THE COUNCILS DENBIGHSHIRE: CONSULTATION ON AGE OF VEHICLES
The licensing committee in Denbighshire has authorised a consultation to look into allowing older taxi and private hire vehicles to continue to be used – if they meet strict maintenance checks. At a recent licensing committee meeting, councillors were asked to consider reviewing the existing maximum age of taxis - for both new and renewal applications of hackney carriage and PHVs. The existing Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Policy came into effect on July 1, 2017 - although there have been a number of small amendments since. The conditions place an age restriction on vehicles whether new or for renewal, namely that all new to-fleet vehicles must be a maximum of five years old and any in-use vehicle reaching the age of 12 years old must be removed. At the time of implementation, a period of grace was given for five years for vehicles which had “grandfather rights”, i.e. ‘they were already licensed vehicles and remained continually licensed’. This grace period was due to end in July 2022. But in January of this year, officers and committee members received a request from a taxi proprietor urgently requesting that the grace period be extended, due to the pandemic pressures placed on the car manufacturing industry. Consequently, the committee agreed to extend the grace until July 2023 – with a further review planned. But at the committee meeting councillors questioned whether the age of vehicles was important if they were properly maintained. Councillor Martyn Hogg said if a vehicle was well maintained, it should still be safe to be in use. “My gut instinct is how well maintained it’s (the vehicle) been,” he said. “It could have done 500,000 miles, but if it’s been well maintained, it could be, or should be, better than a car that’s done 50,000 miles but has never had a service. Has there ever been a serious incident because of a car’s age?” The licensing officer replied: “Not that we know of. But does that mean because the policy’s in place that there hasn’t been?” Cllr Bobby Feeley also said: “Cars are so much better than they were many years ago, aren't they?” “Mechanics are good, and, as Martyn said, they can go on for many miles now if they are maintained and
46
looked after thoroughly, so whether or not we do need to look at it.” The committee decided to defer the time limit on ‘grandfather rights’ for a further 12 months until July 2024. The committee also authorised officers to instigate a consultation process, looking at increasing the maximum age of taxis in use from 12 years and instead introducing a strict maintenance regime. The consultation will also look at allowing new taxi vehicles to be introduced to the county’s fleet if they are under eight years old – increasing from five years. Members also agreed to look into approving vehicles over five years old for new licences during the consultation period before the matter will return to the committee in December.
NORTH YORKSHIRE: COUNTY-WIDE TAXI POLICY DISCUSSED
Plans to introduce a county-wide policy for licensing taxis and private hire vehicles in North Yorkshire are being drawn up ahead of a major change in local democracy. The Craven Herald reports that members of North Yorkshire County Council’s executive will meet next week to discuss plans to launch a consultation on the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy for the whole of the county. The existing seven borough and district councils currently have their own hackney carriage and private hire licensing policies. But ahead of the launch of the new North Yorkshire Council, which will deliver all local services from April 1 next year, the county council’s executive will be asked to endorse a consultation for the new policy. A comprehensive review of the seven existing policies has been undertaken and although they have several factors in common, there are differences in terms of applicant criteria, vehicle specification and procedures. The new policy seeks to ensure that the public continues to be provided with a safe and accessible service, as well as a coherent regulatory framework for the trade across the county. It is proposed that the new council will operate one hackney carriage ‘zone’ for North Yorkshire. This will provide drivers with the flexibility to operate across the county and creating a wider distribution of wheelchair-accessible vehicles.
NOVEMBER 2022 PHTM
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88
