The Strategic Director Place will submit a report (Document “C”) which sets out proposed changes to the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing Conditions and Vehicle Specification so that they align with the
Clean Air Plan (CAP) and Clean Air Zone (CAZ) standards effective from the 5^th January 2022.

Recommended –

(1)       It is recommended that all currently licensed vehicles, regardless        of their emission standards, can 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:

(i)           The vehicle must pass its annual and any other vehicle compliance inspection.

(ii)          The vehicle must remain continuously licensed and with the same Proprietor.

(2)       All vehicles presented for first licensed after the 27h May 2021 must meet the CAZ requirements.

(3)       All new and currently licensed vehicles which meet the CAZ      standards at section 3 can be licensed up to a maximum of 15          years of age. This is subject to the following:

(i)           The vehicle must pass its annual and any other vehicle compliance inspection.

(ii)          The vehicle must remain continuously licensed and with the same Proprietor.

(4)       All non CAZ compliant, currently licensed vehicles that have     exceeded the maximum age or will exceed this maximum age      before the CAZ is introduced be permitted to apply for a short            term licence up until December 31st 2021.

(5)       Vehicles which are sold from one vehicle to another proprietor,            known as transfers will be classified as a new vehicle for the            purchasing proprietor and must meet the new proposed vehicle             specification.

(6)       For hackney carriage vehicles the exchange vehicle must meet            the new proposed specification.

(Carol Stos - 07582 101569)

Previous Reference: Minute 59 (2020/21)

The Strategic Director Place submitted a report (Document “C”) which set out proposed changes to the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing Conditions and Vehicle Specification so that they aligned with the
Clean Air Plan (CAP) and Clean Air Zone (CAZ) standards effective from the 5^th January 2022.

Members were advised that the effect of the proposed changes would be to allow older but cleaner vehicles to stay on the road to help the trade to make the transition to being compliant with the CAP and CAZ. It was also highlighted that the grants being offered to the trade to purchase a compliant vehicle were the second most generous in the country.

Members had various questions about the effect of the CAZ, the amount of grants available, the £12.50 daily charge and the perceived difference in dealing with hackney carriage and private hire vehicles but it was noted that the purpose of this report was simply to consider changes to the vehicle specification and that, therefore, those questions should be directed elsewhere.

A member queried whether a driver who leased a vehicle but then bought it from the leasehold company could be considered to have transferred ownership and thus be disadvantaged by the proposed changes. In response, he was advised that each case would be dealt with on its individual circumstances.

Another member asked how many licensed drivers there were in the District and how many had responded to the recent snap survey. He was informed that there were 5000 licensed drivers but only 1500 had responded.

A member noted that deferring consideration of this matter would not help drivers to deal with their obligation under the CAZ, which would be coming into force in January 2022.

The Chair also read out a statement from two councillors who had been members of the Committee when this item was considered previously but who were not present at this meeting. The statement noted that their ongoing concerns were about the CAZ and that they would continue to support the communities affected.

Several representatives of the trade attended the meeting and spoke in respect of matters such as the Euro 6 diesel vehicle standard, the difficulties they had encountered during the pandemic which were still affecting their business, the proposed £12.50 daily charge for non-compliant vehicles to enter the city centre and the financial problems around swapping vehicles at the present time.

Members of the Committee expressed their sympathy for the views being outlines but re-iterated that they had no remit to discuss them at this meeting. It was considered that a request could be made to the appropriate officers and the portfolio holder to have a meeting with trade representatives to discuss those concerns.

Members also noted the difficult time which the trade had been through but also recognised that the Council must introduce the CAZ and that the effect of not approving the proposed changes set out in the report would be detrimental to the trade.

One of the members who had previously been on the Committee when this item was discussed joined the meeting and spoke as an observer, echoing the concerns expressed by the trade representatives and stating that he considered the proposed changes would affect the most deprived communities.

Resolved –

(1)       That all currently licensed vehicles, regardless of their emission standards, can 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:

(i)           The vehicle must pass its annual and any other vehicle compliance inspection.

(ii)          The vehicle must remain continuously licensed and with the same Proprietor.

(2)       That all vehicles presented for first license after the 27th May 2021 must meet the CAZ requirements.

(3)       That all new and currently licensed vehicles which meet the CAZ         standards at section 3, this being the following:-

·         Hackney Carriage Euro 6 diesel / Euro 4 petrol or LPG

·         Private Hire Vehicles  4 passenger seats (Non-Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle) Euro 5/6 Petrol Hybrid or LPG

·         Private Hire Vehicles (Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle) Euro 6 diesel / Euro 4 petrol or LPG

·         Private Hire Minibus 5-8 seats (Non-Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle) Euro 6 diesel / Euro 4 petrol or LPG

can be licensed up to a maximum of 15 years of age from first date of registration; the vehicle can be any age at first licence. This is subject to the following condition:

(i)           The vehicle must pass its annual and any other vehicle compliance inspection.

(4)       That all non CAZ compliant, currently licensed vehicles that have        exceeded the maximum age or will exceed this maximum age      before the CAZ is introduced be permitted to apply for a short            term licence up until December 31st 2021.

(5)       That vehicles which are sold from one vehicle proprietor to another proprietor, known as transfers will be classified as a new vehicle for the purchasing proprietor and must meet the new proposed vehicle specification.

(6)       That, for hackney carriage vehicles the exchange vehicle must meet the new proposed specification.

(7)       That relevant officers be requested to reassess the application of the Euro 6 Diesel standard and the variance between hackney carriage vehicles and private hire vehicles.

Note: the committee also requested that relevant officers and the portfolio holder meet with drivers and operators in the run up to January 2022 to reassess various issues of concern including the treatment of Euro 6 diesel vehicles, the £12.50 and £50 charges and differences claimed by the trade representatives as to the way the CAZ is being introduced within Bradford compared with other authorities

ACTION: Strategic Director, Place