Agenda item

The Committee considered a report outlining the options in respect of the relaxation of the current guidelines relating to the age limitson vehicles submitted for licensing as Hackney Carriages and Private HireVehicles. It was noted a review of the guidelines was heard by the Licensing Committee at the request of Councillor John Skipper.

As it stood no vehicle could be licensed after the sixth anniversary of the car being registered by the DVLA or from its date of manufacture inthe case of cars, which were first registered overseas.

In addition vehicles which were registered for more than 3 years with the DVLA at the time of being presented for licensing or, in the case of a car which had been first registered overseas, was more thanthree years old would also be unable to be licensed.

It was acknowledged that whilst it appeared that Surrey Heath maybe out of line with the guidelines andpolicies adopted by neighbouring local authorities in relation to the age ofvehicles, the necessity to consider the overall pictureincluding the conditions attached to Licences needed to be recognised.

RESOLVED that

                                       I.     A temporary one year exemption to the current 6 year vehicle age limitrule be applied;

                        II.    and the Licensing Committee receives a detailed report in order toconduct a full review of the current guidelines/ policies relating to Taxi Licensing within the next 12 months.