Issue - meetings

The Committee considered the report of Mr John Littlemore, the Head of Housing and Community Services.  The report informed Members of an intention to provide an achievable action plan for taxi and private hire vehicle emissions in Maidstone for the next 6 years and beyond, and was linked to the Council’s Low Emissions Strategy.

Mr Littlemore explained that a consultation document would be produced and the Hackney and Private Hire Trade would also be consulted and a report together with responses would be brought back to the Committee in July or September for consideration to be given to a policy to be recommended to Communities, Housing and Environment Committee for adoption.

In response to questions from the Committee, Officers advised that:-

·  A proposal would be included on how to deal with the practice of taxis still running their engines whilst in the taxi bays.

·  The provision of electric charging points was sporadic at present and rural areas would be an issue.  However, it was a national issue and it was hoped that this would be something that central government would be addressing in time.

·  That a shared taxis service options would be explored further.

·  That it was proposed that the consultation includes that all private hire and taxi vehicles were required to meet the Euro 4 Petrol (Jan 2006) and Euro 6 Diesel (Sept 2015) or higher standard by 1^st January 2021.

·  That the Department for Transport (DFT) guidance stated that it would be better to define a vehicle on its emission specification, rather than its age.  The age of a vehicle was more relevant to taxis. 

·  Currently, provided that a vehicle had a compliance test twice a year, a hackney carriage vehicle can be licensed until they are 15 years old.

·  That more clarity would be provided within the consultation document on what Officers believe may be exceptional circumstances that may give rise to discretion being operated to waive the policy. 

·  That the options for the flexible services as detailed on Pages 5 and 6 of the report would be included in the consultation document.

It was noted that once this Committee had agreed the policy, it would need to be recommended to the Communities, Housing and Environment Committee for adoption. 

RESOLVED: 

1)  That delegated authority be given to the Head of Housing and Community Services to draft a consultation document for the Hackney and Private Hire Trade in accordance with paragraph 3.2 of the report and to report back to the Committee in the new municipal year with the results of the consultation, together with recommendations for the next steps.

2)  That the flexible services as detailed in Pages 5 and 6 of the report be included in the consultation document, together with reference to the age of vehicle and a definition of exceptional circumstances where the policy may be waived.

Voting:  Unanimous