Meeting documents

The Committee received a report which invited Members to consider whether the Council’s current adopted policy approach to tinted windows on hackney carriages and private hire vehicles should be amended.

The report had been submitted at the request of the Licensing Sub Committee, which met on the 14 August 2013 to consider an application for a private hire vehicle in respect of a vehicle that officers had declined to licence due to the very heavy level of tint on the rear windows and rear windscreen of the vehicle.  Having granted the application, the Licensing Sub-Committee were of the opinion that the Licensing Committee should be given the opportunity to review the policy and consider whether it should be amended in order to provide further clarity and consistency.

South Bucks District Council’s Hackney Carriage & Private Hire Licensing Policy states that in the interest of Public Safety, tinted windows must be approved at inspection by a Licensing Officer prior to the licensing of the vehicle.  Any vehicles inspected that give rise to concern for Public Safety shall be referred to the Licensing Sub Committee for determination.  To ensure vehicles are safe for public use, many other local authorities have adopted policies relating to restricting the level of tint permitted on the windows of private hire vehicles.   The report set out the policies of a number of local authorities in the area as examples of this.

During the discussion, the advantages and disadvantages of the options as set out in paragraph 4.5 of the report were discussed and some Members expressed concerns on options a, b and d because of implications for public safety.  A number of Members were of the opinion that option c was more appropriate as by allowing for more light to be transmitted into the windows it would allow for greater public safety. However, in order to ensure that the needs of certain users are met, it was proposed that the following exemption should be added to option c:

Ø  exceptions to limiting the tint in the rear windows and rear windscreen will be permitted for executive private hire vehicles which meet the Council’s dispensation requirements i.e. vehicles which are exempt from displaying licence plates as set out in the Council’s Hackney Carriage & Private Hire Licensing Policy.  There will be no limit on the level of tint permitted on rear passenger windows and rear windscreen of private hire vehicles meeting the dispensation requirements.

A motion to approve option c as amended above was moved by Cllr Egleton and seconded by Cllr Smith. On a vote, the motion was carried.

RESOLVED that the following proposed amendment to the policy be consulted upon:

Light transmitted through the front windscreen of hackney carriages and private hire vehicles must be at least 75%. All other windows including the rear windscreen must allow at least 70% of light to be transmitted. Exceptions to this policy will be permitted for executive private hire vehicles which meet the Council’s dispensation requirements i.e. vehicles which are exempt from displaying licence plates as set out in the Council’s Hackney Carriage & Private Hire Licensing Policy.  There will be no limit on the level of tint permitted on rear passenger windows and rear windscreen of private hire vehicles meeting the dispensation requirements.