Agenda and minutes

            The Minutes of the meeting held on 22^nd January 2007 having been printed and circulated were taken as read and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

            At a previous meeting held on 18^th September 2006, the Committee agreed that a review of the age policy on Hackney Carriage and Private Hire vehicles in the Borough be undertaken.

 

            Subsequently, on 26^th October 2006, Members of the Taxi Consultative Group were advised of the review and asked for their comments and the reasons for their comments in writing.

 

            As a result, 5 responses were received from the trade which were collated together with other relevant information and proposals for the age limit and reported back to the meeting of the Taxi Consultative Group on 25^th January 2007.

 

            At this meeting, the members of the group made comments both for and against the proposals and were requested to make recommendations/comments in writing to the Licensing Section, Legal Services by 16^th February 2007.

 

            RESOLVED: That the vehicle age policy outlined in appendix 1 be adopted as Council policy.

 

 

                                                                                                            APPENDIX 1

 

 

PROPOSED VEHICLE AGE POLICY                                 Maximum age limit

 

Saloons estate and MSV’s                                                8 years (Status quo)

 

MPV FULLY wheelchair compliant                             12 years

 

Purpose built (definition to remain the same)             16 years

 

Grandfather rights period –  2011

 

Grandfather rights will be given for those adversely affected by any policy change.  The current proposals mean that only Hackney Carriage purpose built vehicles could theoretically be adversely affected.  By 2011 all purpose built vehicles will be no older than 16 years

 

 

REASONS FOR HAVING AN AGE LIMIT

• Inevitable decline in mechanical standards including greater likelihood of breakdown.

• Inevitable decline in comfort (seats / interior looking tired)

• Image

• Perfectly lawful to have an age limit (Hyndburn)

• System currently works

• Implication for no age limit would be a massive increase in enforcement to police the vehicles.  

• Provides an incentive to invest in more expensive fully wheelchair compatible vehicles whilst balancing this against total absence of an age limit which would result in more vehicles of a lesser standard.

• Saloon and Estate and MSV’s are not included whatever the cost of those vehicles. They do not contribute to increasing fully wheelchair accessible vehicles in the Borough.