To note the report and:

i)               Agree that research should be conducted into the availability and cost of electric and hybrid hackney carriages, and whether the models available comply with requirements for wheelchair accessibility.

ii)              Agree that consultation should be conducted with hackney carriage drivers and all other interested parties as to possible changes to the livery on electric and hybrid vehicles, and

iii)             Agree that the results of the research, the consultation, and options for changes to the livery on electric and hybrid hackney carriages, be brought to the next Licensing Panel meeting on 13 February 2024

Greg Nelson outlined the second report that was before the panel. He began by stating that the current requirement was that the HCs were white with a purple bonnet and boot, and a large RBWM coat of arms on the sides of the vehicle. This was introduced in 2012 and failure to comply, was a contravention of the Hackney Carriage Driver and Vehicle Policy & Conditions, which could result in enforcement action being taken against the driver or owner of the vehicle. He referred the panel to paragraphs 1.3 to 1.6 of the report which set out the history of why the livery was first introduced, the fact that it was not popular with the HC drivers, and that successive borough administrations had wanted to keep it.

Greg Nelson then addressed the government recently moving the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in the UK from 2030 to 2035. He said that over the next few years, the borough would need to consider how they move the vehicles that were licenced, away from fossil fuel to hybrid or electric power, and that this would need a considerable lead in time to allow drivers to plan ahead. He added that as a first step, it could present an opportunity to allow some changes or relaxation of the current livery requirements for drivers who decide now to move from using a fossil fuelled vehicle to an electric or hybrid vehicle. The RBWM Hackney Carriage Driver and Vehicle Policy & Conditions could be amended such that the livery requirement was changed, reduced, or removed entirely for electric or hybrid vehicles. This would not only remove the objections that the drivers had to the livery and also encourage them to move to an electric or hybrid vehicle. He then outlined some key factors which would have to be taken into account, along with a considerable amount of research.

Greg Nelson then ended his submission by outlining the recommendations that were available for the panel to consider and vote on.

The Chair thanked Greg Nelson and invited Mr Sabir, Mr Jaffri and Mr Yasin to address the panel once at a time as a registered speaker. They were each given 3 minutes.

Councillor Wilson thanked the speakers for their comments and contribution. He noted the transition to lower emissions and also the provision of EV charge points within the borough. He then said that it was important to have something on the vehicles to distinguish them from other vehicles. Wheelchair access was also very important and asked if anything could be relaxed in the future with regards to the requirements of these.  

Councillor Martin said that she would support a new livery, but agreed with Councillor Wilson that they should still have one. She asked for clarity on the move away from diesel vehicles to electric. Greg Nelson said that this was something that would be brought back to the Licensing Panel to decide upon.

Councillor K Singh asked if there could be a pros and cons list for the livery. He asked if someone was to buy a new petrol or diesel car before 2035, what would this mean for drivers. Greg Nelson said that if the vehicle was able to operate past 2035, then it still could operate, however he asked if the borough would want these cars to still have the livery on it. The drivers would need a lot of time given to them to allow them to fully assess their options.

Councillor Story asked for ii) of the recommendations made by officers to include the words ‘with users’ within it, to put residents at the front and centre of the recommendations. This was agreed by the officer.

Councillor Douglas wanted it to be made clear that this was a long-term plan and there was no expectation of early take-up.

Councillor Wilson asked when the current policies for livery and wheelchair use was last reviewed and put into place. Greg Nelson replied by saying that the livery came into effect in around 2012 or 2013. Since 2016, it had been brought to the Licensing Panel once in around 2018, but not since. The wheelchair accessibility policy was introduced in around 2018 or 2019 and had not come back to panel since.

Councillor Wilson asked if the borough was at a point now to look back at the policy for all vehicles, whilst the consultation was going to be put in motion. Greg Nelson said that he could certainly discuss that offline with the Chair, Vice-Chair and the relevant Cabinet Member.

Councillor Martin said that a budget should be agreed with the drivers and then the designer of the livery could then work within that realm.

Councillor Douglas wished to make sure that electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles were not grouped together. This was due to the environmental benefits of hybrid vehicles, being a lot more disputed than that of electric ones. Greg Nelson said that all possibilities would be taken into consideration.

Councillor K Singh said that it was important to have some sort of livery as persons who were not residents, could clearly identify a vehicle for them to use. Greg Nelson agreed and said that the passenger certainly needed to be put at the forefront, with public safety being prioritised.

Councillor Sharpe said that it was important that the correct vehicle was being use for the exact journey. The drivers should be encouraged to use the right sort of vehicle and suggested different costs depending on what vehicle was being used, such as diesel or electric.

A motion was put forward by Councillor K Singh to accept the officer recommendations as set out in the report with the addition of the words ‘with users’ in ii), along with ‘electric and hybrid vehicles’ being changed to ‘any vehicles’. This was seconded by Councillor Baskerville.

A named vote was taken.

AGREED: That the Licensing Panel noted the report and:

i)               Agreed that research should be conducted into the availability and cost of electric, hybrid hackney carriages and all other vehicles, and whether the models available complied with requirements for wheelchair accessibility,

ii)             Agreed that consultation should be conducted with users, hackney carriage drivers and all other interested parties as to possible changes to the livery on any licensed vehicles, and

iii)            Agreed that the results of the research, the consultation and options for changes to the livery on licensed vehicles, be brought to the next Licensing Panel meeting on 13 February 2024

The Chair wished to bring some any other business items to the attention of Greg Nelson. These were:

·       The availability of space at the Windsor Castle Taxi Rank due to other drivers using it

·       The loss of space at the Windsor Castle Taxi Rank and if the original rank could be brought back.

·       An organised trip for the Chair, Vice-Chair, and relevant Cabinet Member to visit taxi ranks, and to meet the drivers.

Greg Nelson thanked the Chair and the drivers for bringing this to his attention. Drivers found doing this had been given formal cautions and that the team’s relationship with Transport for London was very good. The loss of space was a difficult subject as the temporary pavement had now been made permanent, which in turn had now reduced the space. Greg Nelson admitted that there may not be much he could do about this, however he would endeavour.