The Executive Director for Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report asking the Committee to consider and approve updated criteria for the allocation of Hackney Carriage Licence Plates as and when they might become available. A copy of the current criteria, resolved by the Licensing Applications Committee on 4 November 2015 (Minute 3 refers), was attached to the report at Appendix I.

The report highlighted the Licensing team’s recommendation that two changes be made to the Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licence Plate Criteria. A copy of the proposed new criteria was attached to the report at Appendix II.

The first proposed change sought to increase the length of time that prospective Hackney Carriage Proprietors’ licence holders would need to have held a Reading Borough Council Hackney Carriage Driver’s licence from eight (8) consecutive years to 12 consecutive years prior to them showing an expression of interest.

The second proposal required that applicants who successfully met the criteria and were eligible for a Proprietors’ licence must provide a brand new ULEV or brand new fully electric purpose-built hackney carriage vehicle for licensing within three months of being permitted to apply for a Hackney Carriage Vehicle licence or the Hackney Carriage Proprietors’ licence might be issued to any other person who showed an expression of interest and met the current criteria.

Asif Rashid, Chairman of the Reading Taxi Association, and Imran Ali, a local taxi driver, both addressed the Committee.

Resolved –

(1)      That the length of time that prospective Hackney Carriage Proprietors’ licence holders would need to have held a Reading Borough Council Hackney Carriage Driver’s licence remain at eight (8) consecutive years prior to them showing an expression of interest.

(2)      That the Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licence Plate Criteria be amended so that applicants who successfully met the criteria and were eligible for a Proprietors’ licence must provide a brand new ULEV or brand new fully electric purpose-built hackney carriage vehicle for licensing within three months of being permitted to apply for a Hackney Carriage Vehicle licence or the Hackney Carriage Proprietors’ licence might be issued to any other person who showed an expression of interest and met the current criteria.