Meeting documents

Following the decision made at the last meeting the Committee considered a report setting out the results of the consultation carried out on a proposal to amend the Council’s current adopted policy approach to tinted windows fitted in hackney carriages and private hire vehicles as follows:

"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

14 responses to the consultation exercise had been received of which 8 were in favour of the proposed new policy approach with 6 not in favour. A petition signed by 35 private hire and/or hackney carriage drivers had also been received but it was unclear on whether it was in favour or against the proposal. The petition expressed concerns about the cost to drivers in replacing tinted glass and the covering letter stated that 8 of 10 vehicles are now manufactured with rear tints.

The report confirmed that the offer to hold a meeting with the petitioners had been accepted and the notes of the meeting held on 28 January 2014 attended by 14 drivers, the Chairman of the Committee and the Licensing Manager were circulated at the committee meeting.

As a result of the meeting it had been clarified that the 35 petitioners were not in favour of the proposed change with a consensus among them that a 70% tint should be allowed for all windows other than the front windscreen. Other issues raised at the meeting included the costs of the proposed policy change and the fact that that there was no restriction on tinted windows for private hire vehicles licensed in London.

In the light of the comments received as a result of the consultation and after receiving information on the level of tint on new vehicles likely to be used in the future for taxis and private hire, members felt that the proposed change should be reconsidered with a view to allowing more tint. Members were advised that having considered all the responses to the consultation any proposal to allow tint above 50% would constitute a material change from that proposed in the consultation and would therefore need to be the subject of a further consultation exercise with a further report back to a future meeting of the Committee.

During the debate around the level of tint that should be permitted and after being reminded of the policies adopted by other Council’s, including Chiltern District Council a motion to approve a 70% tint was tint was moved by Councillor Smith and Seconded by Councillor Clarke. On being put to a vote the motion was declared carried following which it was

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%. Light transmitted through the front side windows of hackney carriages and private hire vehicles must be at least 70%.  All other windows including the rear windscreen must allow at least 30%) 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.  Executive private hire vehicles meeting the dispensation requirements will be required to meet the requirement for 75% and 70% of light to be transmitted through the front windscreen and front side windows respectively".