Agenda item

Consideration was given to a report of the Trading Standards and Licencing Manager which requested that Members approve a revised Licencing Policy for Taxis and Private Hire, which included proposals on vehicle age, testing criteria and certificates of good conduct. 

On 6 June 2023, a report was presented to Members with proposals to revise the Taxi & Private Hire Licensing Policy following consultation with the trade in relation to application requirements, vehicle minimum age policy and private hire door signs to help streamline and modernise some procedures with an emphasis on maintaining public safety and considering the economic situation. 

Vehicle Age Policy

Proposed policy requirements:

Vehicles new to licence, or applicants who seek to change their vehicle during an existing licence, will be licensed until the age of 12, or the age of 15 in the case of purpose-built hackney carriages, or wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs).

The above requirements are subject to all new and replacement vehicles meeting the latest emission standard which is outlined in the existing policy.

Members were encouraged to amend the policy so that once again Oldham can get to a situation where a licenced vehicle can stay on fleet until 12 years of age or 15 in case of a purpose built Hackney carriage or wheelchair accessible vehicle, that will not change any existing policies that apply to those vehicles but simply mean to revert  back to where Oldham were a couple of years ago. 

A Member proposed to accept the report, another seconded.  All Members of the Committee agreed on the proposal.

Vehicle Testing

Vehicle Test Criteria

The Manager informed that in Oldham, an age compliance test system is operated.  The licencing law allows licenced vehicles either to have an MOT or a compliance test which is a council dictated test, with their own standards and the council has set standards above the standards of the MOT test.

The Officer summarised that all licencing authorities within GM conduct checks on vehicles to be used as Hackney carriage or Private Hire. Some authorities issue an MOT certificate as part of that testing process, and others including Oldham make use of an MOT certificate exemption. It is proposed that we issue an MOT certificate as part of the test.

Certificates of Good Conduct

The Manager informed the Committee of the existing policy standard for applicants, which follows Government guidance. 

The Committee were informed that when applying for UK residency the Border Agency and Home Office do their own checks and licencing will not grant a licence to someone who has a serious crime, therefore need to have their own checks in place.  In theory and practise contacting every Embassy and Consulate does not work as they have their own issues.  Licensing does the best they can to get the information into the UK, to do a fair assessment on someone's fitness to be a licenced driver. 

RESOLVED that:

1.    The report be noted;

2.    The Vehicle Age Policy be amended so that vehicles new to licence, or applicants who seek to change their vehicle during an existing licence, will be licensed until the age of 12, or the age of 15 in the case of purpose-built hackney carriages or wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs), subject to all new and replacement vehicles meeting the latest emission standard as outlined in the existing policy noted;

3.    The Vehicle Testing Frequency be amended as follows:

·         Vehicles under 3 years of age – 1 test per year

·         Vehicles 3 years of age – 2 tests per year;

4.    MOT certificates be issued as part of the vehicle testing process following the preparation of new testing criteria the authorisation of the existing test bays by the DVSA; and

5.    Where an applicant has lived outside the UK for more than three continuous months within the last 5 years, they must obtain a certificate of good conduct authenticated and translated into English by the relevant Embassy or Consulate to assess their suitability and review any previous convictions.