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Agenda item
Revision of Hackney Carriage And Private Hire Vehicle Standard / Conditions of Licence.
Minutes:
Prior to the presentation of the report, the Legal Advisor to the
Committee explained that Mr George Edwards from the CCBTDA had submitted 3
questions ahead of the meeting in relation to matters unrelated to the agenda
item, and gave assurances that Licensing Officers would make contact with Mr
Edwards following the meeting to respond to his queries.
The Licensing Manager presented the report,
which proposed that the specification and conditions applicable to window
tinting / light transmission in the rear windows of Hackney
Carriage (Taxi) and Private Hire Vehicles be reviewed, following representation
from the Caerphilly County Borough Taxi Drivers Association.
Members were reminded that in April 2018, the Council amended its
requirement in relation to vehicle rear window tint or light transmission from
70% to 30%. This was amended to allow the
trade greater flexibility in relation to the number of vehicles that would meet
the Council’s vehicle specification given the more standardised
use by vehicle manufacturers of tinted glass.
However, the report acknowledged that the
amended policy continues to place limitations on the trade in view of the standardised
nature of tinted glass used by manufacturers and the cost of replacing windows
after purchasing a new vehicle. It was
noted that many local authorities in Wales are transitioning towards Welsh
Government’s aspirations for zero-emission vehicles, and that work is being
undertaken towards a set of national standards for licensed vehicles, which
could both conflict with Caerphilly’s existing position in respect of window
tint requirements. Cardiff Council has
already relaxed its policy in relation to rear window tint.
It was explained that the Caerphilly County Borough Taxi Drivers Association have
made representations for the window tint position to be revisited. A consultation exercise was therefore
undertaken with the trade on proposed changes to window tint
requirements which received 96 favourable responses and 4 respondents who wished for the existing
position to be retained. The
views of Social Services and Integrated Transport Unit were also sought on the
proposed changes and no adverse comments were received.
The latest report
therefore recommended an amendment to the Authority’s position in
respect of rear window tint or light transmission and sought the Committee’s approval to amend the Council’s
specification and conditions applicable to window tinting / light transmission
in the rear windows of Hackney Carriage (Taxi) and Private Hire Vehicles to ‘Windscreen & Windows’ - ‘To be in a good clean condition and free from damage. All windows
must comply with relevant legislation in respect of light
transmission’.
Mr George Edwards of the CCBTDA was then invited to address the Taxi
and General Committee. Mr Edwards
outlined the challenges faced by the trade as a result of the current position
in respect of window tinting and asked the Committee to support the proposed
change.
The Committee discussed the report and in response to Members’ queries,
the Licensing Manager provided clarification on the legislative requirements in
respect of visibility within the vehicle and those requirements which are set
locally by each authority, and also elaborated on the existing requirements in
respect of vehicle standards. Members
expressed their support for the proposal and recognised the need for the change
to be introduced.
Following consideration of the report, it was moved and seconded that
the following recommendation be approved.
By way of roll call (and in noting there were 8 for, 0 against and 0
abstentions) this was unanimously agreed.
RESOLVED that the Council’s specification and conditions applicable
to window tinting/light transmission in the rear windows of Hackney Carriage
(Taxi) and Private Hire Vehicles be amended to ‘Windscreen
& Windows’ - ‘To be in a good clean condition and free from damage. All windows must
comply with relevant legislation in respect of light transmission. Only original vehicle manufactured tints are
permitted on the rear windows.’
Supporting documents: