Issue - meetings

Report from the Cabinet Member for Commercial and Operations.

Decision

1.          Cabinet notes the results of the public consultation.

2.          Cabinet approves the South Kesteven District Council Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy with effect from 1 April 2021, with the exception of reduction in vehicle age at first registration from 7 to 5 years which will take effect on 1 October 2021.

3.          Cabinet delegates to the Director of Commercial and Operations in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Commercial and Operations, to make minor amendments to the policy, such as legislative updates, which may become necessary from time to time to ensure its continued accuracy, but do not affect its direction or intent.

Considerations/reasons for decision

·             Report from the Cabinet Member for Commercial and Operations following a review of the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy and a four week consultation period.

·             A workshop held with Members of the Licensing Committee and the Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee which considered a review of the existing Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy.

·             New statutory standards published in July 2020, by the Department for Transport on statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards.

·             Significant changes made under environment sustainability, driver knowledge and language proficiency and determining a “fit and proper” person to hold a licence as well as the use of e-cigarettes, compliance tests to reflect changes to MOT defect types, as well as a list of other general requirements.

·             Consultation carried out with the hackney carriage and private hire trade, general public and other relevant stakeholders including the Authorities Licensing Committee which showed broad support for the proposed changes.

Other Option considered

To proceed with the Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy as issued for consultation, with the policy taking effect in full from 1 April 2021.

The Cabinet Member for Commercial and Operations presented the report on the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy following the four-week consultation that had taken place.   He drew the Cabinet’s attention to the significant changes within the document and highlighted that the decrease in the maximum age at first licence from 7 to 5 years would not be implemented until October 2021, as per the recommendation contained within the report.  The Cabinet Member for Commercial and Operations also highlighted the changes in relation to environmental sustainability; the discount in the licence fee for electric vehicles, the introduction of more in depth English language tests and the introduction of penalty points for idling vehicles on the hackney carriage rank. 157 replies had been received to the consultation with the proposals being broadly supported.  The proposals were seconded.

Cabinet Members were supportive of the proposals and the process that had been gone through before the document was brought before the Cabinet.

On being put to the vote, it was AGREED:

1.          That Cabinet notes the results of the public consultation.

2.       That Cabinet approves the South Kesteven District Council Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy with effect from 1 April 2021, with the exception of reduction in vehicle age at first registration from 7 to 5 years which will take effect on 1 October 2021.

3.          That Cabinet delegates to the Director of Commercial and Operations in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Commercial and Operations, to make minor amendments to the policy, such as legislative updates, which may become necessary from time to time to ensure its continued accuracy, but do not affect its direction or intent.