Meeting documents

The Committee considered a report on the results of a six week consultation exercise concerning proposals to amend the Council’s current adopted policy approach to tinted windows fitted in hackney carriages and private hire vehicles.

On 9 October 2013, the Licensing Committee considered a report concerning the approach to tinted windows on hackney carriages and private hire vehicles.  The Committee agreed to consult on a new policy wording permitting only a 30% tint on rear windows of taxi and private hire vehicles, with no limits on tints on rear windows of vehicles meeting the Council’s dispensation requirements. 

On 29 January 2014, the Licensing Committee considered the results of the consultation, along with notes of a meeting held on 28 January 2014 between the Licensing Manager, the Chairman of the Committee and 14 licensed drivers.  Rather than recommending the policy wording approved on 9 October to Council for approval, the Committee resolved to undertake another consultation seeking views on the following revised policy wording:

"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".

The consultation exercise commenced on 4 April 2014 and concluded on 16 May 2014.  Seven responses to the consultation exercise were received, as detailed in section 4 of the report.  Of the responses received, two appeared in favour of the proposed new policy approach, three appeared in favour of a more relaxed policy approach and two appeared in favour of a more restricted policy approach.

Having considered the comments received as a result of the latest consultation exercise, the Committee approved the revised policy wording as set it paragraph 3.2 of the report and accordingly