Purpose

At the request of the Waste and Street Scene
Committee, the Licensing Service is reviewing its policies in
relation to vehicle age limits.

Content

11.1

Members of the committee
considered a report of the Executive Director Neighbourhood
Services setting out proposed amendments to the Private Hire
Vehicle Specification and details of the consultation process that
had been undertaken. The report sought approval of the proposed
amendments and for them to be implemented immediately.

 

 

11.2

RESOLVED
UNANIMOUSLY: That the Waste and Street
Scene Policy Committee
approves the proposed
amendments to the Private Hire Vehicle Specification, as set out in
Appendix E to this report, to be implemented
immediately.

 

 

11.3

Reasons for Decision

 

 

11.3.1

The proposed amendments to the vehicle
specification are designed to:

·      
Provide individuals with a clear, consistent basis for submitting
vehicle applications

·      
Provide a clear, consistent basis for determining vehicle licence
applications

·      
Provide licensees with information on vehicle licensing
requirements throughout the time they are licensed

 

 

11.3.2

Approving the proposals will ensure that
applicants and licensees are provided with clear information on the
type of vehicles that are licensable, and that the cleanest
vehicles are enabled to be licensed for longer periods.

 

 

11.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

 

 

11.4.1

Alternative Option 1:

 

 

 

Maintain the current Private
Hire Vehicle Specification.

 

 

 

The current introductory age
limit for new diesel and petrol vehicles is set at 4 years. By
maintaining this limit, licence holders face a reduction in vehicle
choice at an increased cost.

 

 

 

In addition, this option does
not include additional incentives to allow electric and hydrogen
fuelled vehicles to be licensed for longer periods of
time.

 

 

 

The preferred recommendation,
however, includes changes to several other areas of the vehicle
specification. These changes aim to broaden the range of vehicles
eligible for licensing, reduce the financial burden on licence
holders, and enhance facilities for disabled passengers.

 

 

11.4.2

Alternative Option 2:

 

 

 

Adopt the proposed amendments
consulted upon, as set out in Appendix B.

 

 

 

Although this option proposes
increasing the introductory age limit for new diesel and petrol
private hire vehicles to 6 years, which would expand the choice
available to licence holders, it is important to note that the Euro
6d-temp standard was only introduced on 1st September 2019 (this
was unknown at the time of consultation).

 

 

 

Approving this option with
immediate effect would consequently allow the licensing of new
diesel and petrol vehicles that were registered prior to the
introduction of Euro 6d-temp. As a result, vehicles that do not
meet the emissions limits outlined in the preferred proposal could
be licensed, potentially undermining the Council’s strategic
plan to create “A city on the move – growing,
connected, and sustainable.”