The Licensing Officer presented a report which sought approval for a 6 week consultation on amendments to the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy which came into effect on 21 July 2016. The Council was required to regularly review its Taxi Licensing Policy. The results, consultation feedback and the draft amended policy would be reported to the next meeting.

The Chairman brought the Committee’s attention to some minor errors within the report which it was agreed could be amended in consultation with the Chairman.

The Council’s current practice was to pay for two thirds of the required annual medical tests for taxi drivers over 65 years of age. Officers advised that the other authorities in the partnership did not follow this practice and drivers who were self-employed should be able to reclaim the cost of medical tests through the tax system. In addition to the cost of the medical tests, the Council incurred costs from a retainer with the contracted medical centre and the cost of processing the expenses. Drivers had previously reported long waiting lists for the contracted medical centre which was often further away than their local GP and would not have the drivers’ full medical records.

Members discussed the proposal from a driver that the new Ultra Low Emission Vehicles (ULEVs) be exempt from the requirement for Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles. It was noted that electric vehicles and wheelchair accessibility vehicles which were significantly more expensive. Questions were raised regarding which testing practice was used to calculate fuel consumption and emissions for ULEVs. It was noted that from 1 September 2018 new cars were required to comply with the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Testing Procedure (WLTP). It was agreed that the consultation process for ULEVs should also refer to vehicle compliance with the WLTP.

The effects of the new proposal were discussed, considering the current low levels of wheelchair accessible Hackney Carriage vehicles. Members raised concerns about altering conditions which may further deplete the accessible Hackney Carriage stock. Despite accessible Hackney Carriage vehicles being below the average across the Licensing Partnership, the private hire stock in the Sevenoaks District had a much higher proportion of accessible cars. No complaints had been received by the Licensing Partnership relating to the accessibility of vehicles in the District. The benefits of electric vehicles were noted and also the likelihood of future regulations to monitor emissions output. Members were advised that any changes made could be reviewed in the future. Members were interested in the views of the public and drivers which would be sought in the consultation.

Action 1: The Head of the Licensing Partnership to monitor the condition currently in place aimed at increasing numbers of wheelchair accessible vehicles within the fleet and advise the Committee within the next year on how successful the policy has been.

Members considered each of the proposed Policy amendments in the report and agreed their inclusion in the consultation.

The Chairman moved the recommendations within the report subject to the amendments discussed above and it was

Resolved: That

a)     the draft amended Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy be approved for public consultation subject to minor amendments to be agreed in consultation with the Chairman;

b)     the proposed amendment to Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles as listed in the supplementary agenda be amended to ensure measurement against the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Testing Procedure (WLTP); and

c)     the practice of the Licensing Authority paying for the annual medical tests for drivers aged over 65 cease, with effect from 31 March 2019.