Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Buckley, Dear, Richardson and Mulroney (no substitutes).

No interests were declared at the meeting.

Resolved:-

That the Minutes of the Meeting held on Friday, 7^th July 2023 be confirmed as a correct record and signed.

The Committee received a report of the Executive Director (Environment and Place) that sought approval to the reinstatement of taxi licensing conditions relating to the age of Hackney Carriages (HC) and Private Hire Vehicles (PHV) at the stage of first licensing and that these be temporarily amended until the introduction of new conditions via the forthcoming taxi policy, whereby the 5-year age limit (6-year age limit for wheelchair accessible vehicles) is disapplied. The report also sought approval to applying a 6-month licence extension process for wheelchair accessible vehicles once they reach ten years old, due the expansion of the types of vehicles to include rear access wheelchair accessible vehicles.

RESOLVED:-

That the amended age-related conditions as set out below be approved with immediate effect until such time as the new Council taxi policy has been adopted:

The Proposed Condition For HC

2.1.1(a) Where a vehicle is more than 5 years old when first licenced (Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles 6 years), the vehicle must be Euro 6 emission rating (petrol or diesel vehicles) or capable of achieving zero emissions (hybrid or electric vehicles). All vehicles should not be more than 10-years old when subsequently licenced (Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles 20 years). The maximum age permitted is based on the condition of the vehicle which is considered at 8 years (10 years for Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles) and can be extended by 6-month intervals to a maximum of 10 years. (20 years for Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles) Any limousine or specially approved vehicle shall have no specific age limit and will be reviewed annually.

The Proposed Condition For PHV

1.1.2   Where a vehicle is more than 5 years old when first licenced (Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles 6 years), the vehicle must be Euro 6 emission rating (petrol or diesel vehicles) or capable of achieving zero emissions (hybrid or electric vehicles). All vehicles should not be more than 10-years old when subsequently licenced (Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles 20 years). The maximum age permitted is based on the condition of the vehicle which is considered at 8 years (10 years for Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles) and can be extended by 6-month intervals to a maximum of 10 years (20 years for Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles) Any limousine or specially approved vehicle shall have no specific age limit and will be reviewed annually.

Further to Minute No. 4 of its last meeting held on 7^th July 2023. the Committee received a report of the Executive Director (Environment and Place) that presented a corrected version of the proposed fare chart following a number of errors that had been presented in the previous fare chart.  A revised copy illustration the corrected fare chart was attached to the submitted report at Appendix 1.

RESOLVED:-

1. That the corrections to the fare chart set out at Appendix 1 of the submitted report be noted and the changes to the fare chart structure be duly advertised, implementing the public consultation process.

2. That, in the event that any objections to the proposed fare chart are received following statutory advertisement, the proposed changes to the fare chart be referred back to the Licensing Committee for consideration.