‘UNAFFORDABLE’ TAXI AGE LIMIT PLAN SCRAPPED

Policy changed in light of Covid-19 impact

COUNCIL officials have shelved plans to impose an age limit on taxis – due to Covid-19’s impact on the trade.

Stoke-on-trent City Council had proposed to introduce a 12-year age limit on cars being used as private hire vehicles or Hackney carriages.

But taxi firms and drivers objected to the ‘unaffordable’ proposal, saying it would require them to replace dozens of vehicles at a time when the pandemic has hit their income.

Members of the licensing and general purposes committee have now agreed to drop the proposed age limit from the revised licensing policy – although the issue may be revisited next year.

Under the current rules, vehicles must be less than seven years old when they are first licenced. Once they are 10 years old they must undergo an MOT and suitability test every six months, but other than that there is no upper age limit.

Licensing manager Rachel Wallwork told the committee: “Historically we had an end-of-life age policy, after which vehicles were not allowed to be renewed.

“We removed that three years ago because the trade told us they wanted to be in charge of their own destiny and that they would naturally replace older vehicles with the newer vehicles.

“Unfortunately, over the past three years it’s become apparent that that hasn’t happened, and we now have a much older fleet than we’ve ever had before. We had 17 and 18-year-old vehicles that have done hundreds of thousands of miles and are still currently licensed.

“As you can see from the consultation responses, that was the thing that most people were concerned about, especially in light of Covid-19 – the trade is down at the moment, and there is no night-time economy to speak of.

“Obviously things will improve, but that is the reason why licensing have recommended we remove the age policy at this time, to give the economy a chance to recover.”

The Hackney Carriage Association wrote to the council saying that 49 licensed vehicles in the city were currently over the age of 12, with a further 29 over the age of 10.

City Centre Central private hire firm said the age limit policy would affect 30 of its vehicles, while Z Carz Private Hire stated that it had four vehicles over the age of 12.

The Z Carz letter states: “If this policy comes into force in the next few months, 15 of our vehicles would have to be replaced, this is over 50 per cent of our vehicles. This will not be sustainable nor affordable.”

Committee members voted to accept the revised policy, barring the age limit.

Changes include requiring drivers to undertake a safeguarding refresher course every three years, and allowing the licensing of Hackney carriages with rear access for wheelchairs.

The new policy will come into effect from January 1, to give enough time for the council to inform drivers and firms of the changes.