Local democracy

Agenda item

CHANGES IN TAXI LICENSING CONDITIONS TO SUPPORT THE CLEAN AIR PLAN (CAP) AND ALIGN WITH THE CLEAN AIR ZONE (CAZ) STANDARDS AND SUPPORT PACKAGES

The Strategic Director Place will present a report (Document “BE”) which explains that the Council has prepared a plan to achieve compliance with legal limits for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in the shortest possible time, in line with Ministerial Direction. The Clean Air Plan (CAP) will include the introduction of a Clean Air Zone (CAZ) on the 5th January 2022 that will require Hackney Carriages and private hire vehicles (PHV) licensed in Bradford to either meet the CAZ emission standards or pay a daily charge to enter the CAZ. The Government has confirmed funding of over £10m in support for Bradford taxi drivers to upgrade to CAZ requirements, setting a precedent for levels of grant funding for PHV nationally. The Council seeks to amend taxi licensing conditions to support the Clean Air Plan (CAP) and align with the Clean Air Zone (CAZ) standards and support packages.  

 

Recommended –

 

(1)  That members allow currently licensed vehicles regardless of their emission standards to remain and continue to be licensed to their maximum age of 10 years for Non-Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles and 12 years of age for Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles. This is subject to the following:

·         The vehicle must pass its annual and any other vehicle compliance inspection.   

·         The vehicle must remain continuously licensed and with the same Proprietor.

·         Vehicles that do not meet the Clean Air Zone (CAZ) emission standards will be subjected to a daily fee if they enter the CAZ area of Bradford District.

(2)  That members recommend that once a vehicle has reached its maximum age, if it is to be replaced the new vehicle, that vehicle must meet the requirements of the CAZ, set out in table 1.

 

(3)  That members recommend all NEW vehicles presented to be licensed after the 11th March 2021 must meet the CAZ requirements as outlined in this report.

 

(4)  That members recommend all new and currently licensed vehicles licensed vehicles which meet the CAZ standard can be licensed up to a maximum of 15 years of age, subject to the vehicle passing its annual and any other vehicle compliance inspection

 

(Carol Stos – 01274 437506)

 

 

Minutes:

The Strategic Director Place presented a report (Document “BE”) which explained that the Council had prepared a plan to achieve compliance with legal limits for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in the shortest possible time, in line with Ministerial Direction. The Clean Air Plan (CAP) would include the introduction of a Clean Air Zone (CAZ) on the 5th January 2022 that would require Hackney Carriages and private hire vehicles (PHV) licensed in Bradford to either meet the CAZ emission standards or pay a daily charge to enter the CAZ.

 

The Committee was advised that the Government had confirmed funding of over £10m in support for Bradford taxi drivers to upgrade to CAZ requirements, setting a precedent for levels of grant funding for PHV nationally. The Strategic Director sought to amend taxi licensing conditions to support the Clean Air Plan (CAP) and align with the Clean Air Zone (CAZ) standards and support packages.

 

The package of support measures for hackney carriage and private hire operators and drivers, including a grant of £3,200 towards a new vehicle and a short term period of relicensing  for vehicles reaching their maximum age  was explained in detail.

 

A member queried the consultation that had been undertaken so far and was advised that engagement exercises had taken places in 2019 and 2020 and that weekly messages had been sent to all drivers and operators. Approximately 25% of the trade had responded and 40% of those were interested in changing their vehicle.

 

The member remained unconvinced about the efficacy of the consultation, pointing out that as a local ward member he had not been informed of consultation in his area. He did not consider the report to be clear about how consultation had taken place.

 

He also queried why the standard of vehicle was different for hackney carriage and private hire drivers and was advised that the difference in standard was in respect of wheelchair accessible vehicles as there were currently no alternatives available for those drivers.

 

The Committee was also reminded that 10% of all traffic movements in the District came from the taxi trade and that a comprehensive package of support for drivers wishing to move to a CAZ compliant vehicle had been put in place. Clean air zones were also being introduced in other major towns and cities and the grant available in Bradford was one of the most generous to be proposed. It had been set at a level to ensure a driver could buy a compliant vehicle that was reasonably new to allow a period of trading so they could adjust to the new process and prepare their future plans without the need to pay the daily charge.

 

A number of members expressed concern at the pressures currently being faced by the trade and considered this to be an additional burden at a very difficult time. They also considered that they could have assisted to publicise the engagement events had they been informed of them. They put on record their thanks for the efforts of the trade during the pandemic and, while accepting the need for the Clean Air Zone and the benefits that would result from it, continued to express concern that the trade had not been consulted sufficiently.

 

In response to a further question about consultation it was established that no direct communication had been made with representatives of the trade about this meeting and it was proposed that consideration of the report be deferred until that could take place.

 

Members were reminded that the Clean Air Zone would be coming into force in January 2022 and that the grant referred to in the report would be available to any driver wanting to take advantage of it, notwithstanding the deferral of this report.

 

Resolved –

 

That consideration of this item be deferred to the next appropriate meeting of the Committee in order to engage further with the hackney carriage and private hire drivers and operators and to afford them the opportunity to attend the meeting.

 

ACTION: Strategic Director, Place

 

 

Supporting documents: