Loading
The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
RESOLVED that the Council’s existing age specification and conditions of application that hackney carriage and private hire vehicles must be licensed before 5 years from the date of first registration be retained.
RESOLVED that the requirement for card and electronic payment facilities in Caerphilly licensed Hackney Carriage Vehicles (taxis) NOT be mandated. The Chair thanked everyone in attendance and the meeting closed at 14:56 pm.
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors: P. Cook, D. Cushing, and J. Scriven.
There were no declarations of interest received at the commencement or during the course of the meeting.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the Council’s existing age specification and conditions of application that hackney carriage and private hire vehicles must be licensed before 5 years from the date of first registration be retained.
The Licensing Manager presented a report to the Taxi and General Licensing Committee which asked Members to consider the Councils current entry requirements for licensing of Hackney Carriage (taxi) and Private Hire Vehicles, following a request to revise the same. Members were asked to consider the outcome of the consultation exercise conducted in respect of vehicle entry age requirements for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicles and to determine whether to revise the Council’s entry age requirements for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicles from under 5 years at first registration to under 8 years at date of first registration. A number of responses received following the consultation conducted details of the current cost-of-living crisis and impact of existing requirements upon the taxi and private hire trade. The Licensing Manager advised the Committee that the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 provides the legal framework for the licensing of drivers, vehicles, and private hire vehicle operators. The council being responsible for its district or local authority area. The Council was therefore able to set its criteria and condition requirements for its fleet of Hackney Carriage (taxi) and Private Hire Vehicles, this would include requirements in respect of vehicle age. Following a request submitted by the Caerphilly County Borough Taxi Driver Association (CCBTDA) to revise the council’s vehicle age specification for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicles. This report sought to inform Members of the result of consultation carried out following a proposal to revise the Council’s entry age requirement for Hackney Carriage vehicles (taxi’s) and Private Hire Vehicles. The Council’s existing age specification and conditions of application require that Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicles (apart from wheelchair accessible vehicles) must be licensed before 5 years from the date of first registration as detailed on the vehicle logbook (V5). This is detailed within the Council’s vehicle specification and conditions of application previously approved by Members of the Taxi and General Committee. The Licensing Manager summarised the report for Members, discussed the results of the Consultations 83 responses and summarised the comments received, both supporting and concerns about changing the age of the vehicles. Members were directed to the conclusion and recommendations within the report. The Chair thanked the Licensing Manager for his report and invited Members to ask questions. A Member commented that public safety was the main thing to be considered and queried whether there was a maximum age for the vehicles. It was confirmed that there used to be a maximum age on the vehicles used, this was removed by Members in late 2014, early 2015 and was replaced in that vehicles were to have six monthly MOT checks on vehicles over 10 years for compliance. Vehicles coming onto the fleet are required to undertake testing before being licensed and the Council has its own specification and continue to monitor vehicles even after they have been licensed and can suspend or revoke license if required. Members were reassured that spot checks were undertaken with operators, and this would be for every vehicle irrespective of the age of the vehicle. One Member provided detailed comments on their concerns about the age of vehicles and stated that a strict 5-year age for vehicles should be in place particularly as with older vehicles the overall quality, reliability and appearance of the service could decline but a stricter policy would encourage operators to invest in newer and more efficient vehicles to improve the industries long term sustainability. Modern vehicles offer better safety features, better comfort, they were more reliable, and were more environmentally friendly, providing a higher standard of service. The Member commented that other Councils have strict policies in place for the age of the vehicles and they must also meet Euro 6 emissions standards and stated that Caerphilly Council should uphold these same standards to ensure that the taxi services remain safe, modern, and environmentally responsible. The Licensing Manager referred to the current policy which states that a vehicle must be under five years of age, but that vehicle can continue effectively until the vehicle dies. Feedback from consultation was that operators may be more inclined to remove some of the older vehicles from the fleet that do not meet the Euro 6 requirements, and it was believed that any new vehicle built after 2015 should be Euro 6 complaint. Members were advised that the maintenance of the vehicles was also an important factor. Reassurances were given to Members, that this would see the removal of older vehicles by the operators. Confirmation was sought on whether the amount of mileage on a vehicle had any significance in the age of a taxi vehicle. Members were advised that in relation to mileage it would depend on how a vehicle was maintained as vehicles would deteriorate both internally and externally over time and especially if the vehicles had accrued a lot of mileage. Members were reassured that spot checks would be undertaken on all vehicles and any defects or wear, and tear would be highlighted. A Member stated that they had worked previously for a neighbouring authority and was checking taxi vehicles and commented that they would see vehicles where the mileage had gone around the clock twice as taxi’s cover a lot of mileage and there was a considerable amount of wear and tear to the vehicles over a certain age. The Member stated that they were not happy to increase the age and stated that the Council should look again to put in place a restriction after a certain age of the vehicle to protect the public. A number of Members provided comments on their observations of allowing older vehicles in the fleet and stated that they were not happy to change the age of the vehicles. The Licensing Manager took onboard the comments from Members and advised Members that Members were being asked to consider the revision to the policy was that any new applicant or existing driver bring on a vehicle under 8 years of age. The Chair referred to the report and noted that a number of the other authorities had a similar amount of age restrictions for taxi vehicles and sought clarification as to why it was not open ended. The Licensing Manager confirmed that the request for the changes had been submitted by a member of the trade in response to the current age restrictive policy the authority which has been in place since the Local Governments Miscellaneous Provisions Act. Members were advised that recent guidance of department for transport in England suggests that authorities should not consider age as a barrier and should consider other things such as safety and accessibility. The Committee were advised that Welsh Government may look to do something similar in terms of requirement. The Chair thanked The Licensing Manager and Members and moved to the vote. Following consideration of the report, it was moved and seconded that the Council’s existing age specification and conditions of application that hackney carriage and private hire vehicles must be licensed before 5 years from the date of first registration be retained. By way of Microsoft Forms (and in noting there were 9 for, 1 against and o abstention), this was agreed by the majority present. RESOLVED that the Council’s existing age specification and conditions of application that hackney carriage and private hire vehicles must be licensed before 5 years from the date of first registration be retained.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the requirement for card and electronic payment facilities in Caerphilly licensed Hackney Carriage Vehicles (taxis) NOT be mandated. The Chair thanked everyone in attendance and the meeting closed at 14:56 pm.
The Licensing Manager presented a report to the Taxi and General Licensing Committee which advised Members that under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 The Council can set its criteria and condition requirements for proprietors of hackney carriage (taxi) vehicles. This report informed Members of the result of a consultation exercise regarding a proposal to adopt a mandatory requirement for proprietors / drivers of hackney carriage vehicles to have the means to offer passengers the ability to pay both card/electronic / cash. Members were asked to consider whether to mandate card and electronic payment facilities in all Caerphilly licensed hackney carriage vehicles (taxis). Members were advised that the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 provides the legal framework for the licensing of drivers, vehicles, and private hire vehicle operators. The Council being responsible for its district or local authority area. The Council was therefore able to set its criteria and condition requirements for proprietors of hackney carriage (taxi) vehicles. Following a request submitted by a licensed Caerphilly hackney carriage driver, Members were asked to consider the comments received following a consultation exercise with the licensed trade concerning a mandatory requirement for card and electronic payment facilities in all Caerphilly licensed hackney carriage vehicles (taxis). Currently Hackney Carriage vehicle proprietors have the option as to whether to afford passengers card/electronic / cash payment means. Those who provide this may hold a business advantage over those businesses who do not. Comments made in respect of card machine costs were noted, as were concerns over mobile network coverage to facilitate card / electronic payment means. It was suggested that best practice would be for the vehicle proprietor to afford both payment options in keeping with technological advancements and enhanced customer experience. Members were asked to decide whether to mandate card and electronic payment facilities in all Caerphilly Licensed Hackney Carriage vehicles (taxi’s). The Chair thanked the Licensing Manager for his report and invited Members to ask questions. A Member commented that they were surprised that this was not in place already and commented that an individual could find themselves in a position where they did not have cash on them if it were card payment only and queried what would happen then. Members were advised that Hackney Carriage proprietors have always accepted cash in recent years, some have had requests from members of the public to pay by card and so they offer both forms of payment to provide a better customer experience. A comment was made that people need to be mindful that there could be issues with accessing the network in certain areas throughout the borough where there was poor signal and individuals would have difficulties connecting to make card payments. Members discussed their concerns and stated that the ability to pay by both cash and card should be the options offered to the public. The Chair sought confirmation that Cardiff Council was the only authority that had made card payments mandatory. The Licensing Manager confirmed that to his knowledge that was correct, however there was another City looking to do something similar. The Chair thanked the Licensing Manager and moved to the vote. Following consideration of the report it was moved and seconded that the recommendations be approved. By way of Microsoft Forms (and in noting there were 10 for, 0 against and 0 abstention) this was unanimously agreed. RESOLVED that the requirement for card and electronic payment facilities in Caerphilly licensed Hackney Carriage Vehicles (taxis) NOT be mandated. The Chair thanked everyone in attendance and the meeting closed at 14:56 pm.
Councillors must say when they have a personal link to something being discussed, such as a job, a property or a family member. A prejudicial interest is one strong enough that the councillor usually leaves the room and takes no part.
Declarations are read from the minutes once they are published.
The council hasn't recorded attendance for this meeting.
Lists the council's current councillors only. Co-opted members, officers and former councillors aren't shown.