A report recommending the adoption of a new Hackney Carriage Vehicle Emissions and Age Policy Review for Reading following the completion of a public consultation.

Further to Minute 3 of the meeting held on 11 July 2024, the Committee considered a report on proposed changes to the Hackney Carriage Vehicle Emissions and Age Policy (HCVEAP). The following documents were appended to the report:

·                Appendix 1 - Hackney Carriage Vehicles Emissions and Age Policy Dates

·                Appendix 2 - Consultation Response from the Reading Taxi Association (RTA)

·                Appendix 3 - Consultation Responses via the portal

·                Appendix 4 - Climate Impact Assessment

The Policy aimed to remove older and more polluting vehicles from the hackney carriage fleet, improve local air quality within the town in line with the Council’s climate emergency and air quality policies and would help to provide certainty to drivers that were considering investing in and upgrading to cleaner/greener vehicles.

The report stated that in 2020 the HCVEAP had been paused for two years until 1 October 2022 due to the impact of the Covid pandemic.  The moratorium was subsequently extended to 1 October 2023.  As the effects of the pandemic had diminished it was now deemed a good time to review the HCVEAP and consider any adjustments.

At the meeting held on 11 July 2024 the Committee gave its approval for a public consultation to be conducted on proposed changes to the HCVEAP. The report explained that the consultation had been carried out between 9 September to 17 October 2024. Both the public and the hackney carriage trade, through the Reading Taxi Association (RTA), had been consulted on a revised version of the HCVEAP that included additional new requirements for replacing vehicles and extended the length of the Policy to run to 2035. The changes consulted on were:

a)             1st October 2028 - All replacement vehicles shall be a minimum of ULEV and less than 5 years old. This rule shall apply regardless of whether the vehicle is new to fleet or an existing vehicle being transferred within the fleet.

b)             1st October 2028 - Age limits for ULEV vehicles shall be set at a maximum of 15yrs and then removed from the fleet. Each vehicle shall be assessed on its own merit and an extension of up to a maximum of 2 additional years may be granted on renewal of the licence after a successful RBC compliance test.

c)             That the revised Policy shall run to 2035 when it will be reviewed again unless changes prompt a review sooner (eg changes to Government policy, changes to our Climate Emergency Strategy or Air Quality Plan, different vehicles becoming available onto the market).

The report explained that five representations had been received during the consultation period. One from the RTA representing its members, and the others through the consultation portal. A copy of the consultation responses was attached to the report at Appendices 2 and 3 respectively.

At the meeting the Consumer Protection Group Manager explained that conversations with key stakeholders, namely the RTA, had continued after the conclusion of the consultation and following the publication of the agenda. The RTA had raised concerns regarding the proposed maximum age limit for vehicles on the hackney carriage fleet. As a result of these conversations officers recommended at the meeting that the following changes be made to the Policy:

a)             1 Oct 2028 - All Replacement vehicles are minimum ULEV and less than 7 years old (increased from the 5 years originally proposed). This rule shall apply regardless of whether the vehicle is new to fleet or an existing vehicle.

b)             1 Oct 2028 - Age limit for ULEV vehicles to be set at a maximum 15yrs and then removed from fleet. *Each vehicle shall be assessed on its own merit and an extension of a year to a maximum of 3 additional years (increased from the 2 additional years originally proposed) may be granted on renewal of the licence after a successful RBC compliance test.

The Consumer Protection Group Manager explained that officers would continue to work with the RTA to agree the final detail of the compliance test in order to ensure that all older vehicles that were tested would still be of a high enough standard and quality to meet the Council’s aspirations.

Mr Asif Rashid, Chairman of the Reading Taxi Association, was present at the meeting and addressed the Committee on the proposals. The status of Euro 6 diesel vehicles was discussed. The RTA pointed out that Euro 6 diesel vehicles were currently exempt from ULEZ and Clean Air Zone (CAZ) charges in London, and were similarly exempt in Bristol and Birmingham, but were not exempt in Reading. Councillors indicated that they would be interested to receive further detail about Euro 6 diesel vehicles along with more general information about the composition of the fleet in terms the number of vehicles in each Euro Emission Standard category.

Councillor Ennis was present at the meeting and spoke to the report in his capacity as the Lead Councillor for Climate Strategy and Transport.

Resolved:

(1)           That the following requirements be added to the Hackney Carriage Vehicle Emissions and Age Policy:

a)             1 Oct 2028 - All Replacement vehicles be minimum ULEV and less than 7 years old. This rule shall be applied regardless of whether the vehicle was new to fleet or an existing vehicle.

b)             1 Oct 2028 - Age limit for ULEV vehicles to be set at a maximum 15yrs and then removed from the fleet. *Each vehicle shall be assessed on its own merit and an extension of a year to a maximum of 3 additional years might be granted on renewal of the licence after a successful RBC compliance test.

(2)           That the revised Hackney Carriage Vehicle Emissions and Age Policy run until 2035 at which point it would be reviewed again unless changes prompt a review sooner.