Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Early Intervention (enclosed)

The Director of Early Intervention and Support submitted a report for Members to agree the consultation and phased introductions of vehicle emissions standards and The European New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP) safety rating standards for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle licences.

The Regulatory Services Manager reminded Members that in February 2016 the Licensing and Public Safety Committee agreed in principle to the introduction of a minimum of Euro 5 emissions standards for licenced vehicles to preserve and protect air quality (Condition 21) and to a minimum standards of 4* NCAP safety rating of vehicles to protect public safety (Condition 22) as part of the review of the vehicle conditions. As was agreed previously, the Committee would now consider the best way to implement such changes and over what period these changes should be phased in.

In order to consider the best way to implement these changes, the report included three potential options which were not exclusive but provided initial foundations for Member’s consideration. Each option was addressed in turn.

Option 1 required that all vehicles subject to a grant of a Hackney Carriage or Private Hire Vehicle Licence to meet Condition 21 (Emission standards of Euro 5 or above) and condition 22 (NCAP safety rating of 4* or above) by a date set by Committee; and required that all existing vehicles to comply with the conditions 21 and 22 by a date set by Committee.

Option 2 expanded on Option 1 to ensure that this included the exception to allow those vehicles that have previously been subject to a licence, but where this has lapsed or been suspended, to be treated as existing vehicles and to comply, by a date set by Committee, rather than at the next grant application.

Option 3 required all vehicles subject to a grant of a Hackney Carriage or Private Hire Vehicle Licence to meet Condition 21 and 22 by 2030 and exempt all existing licensed vehicles from the provisions as proposed by the Trade represented at the Licensing Liaison Panel on 23 June when consultation on the phased implementation of the vehicle Conditions 21 and 22 took place.

The number of vehicles currently licensed by Chorley Council that predate this are 24 and the 36 Hackney Carriage Vehicles and approximately 100 of the 140 Private Hire Vehicles. These vehicles and possibly some that postdate 2009 but still do not meet the emission standards, will be affected by the introduction of this condition. This equates to approximately 70% of the fleet, which are likely to be affected by the conditions due to the age of the vehicle (currently registered prior to September 2009 and 7 years old or more). It was indicated that Chorley Council no longer imposes an age restriction on vehicles licenced as Hackney Carriages or Private Hire Vehicles.

In relation to this, Members discussed a reasonable lifespan for the vehicles and took further consideration into the cost implications for both the Council and the Trade, affordability and phasing, and the discrepancies  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35