The Director of Law and Governance submitted a report for the Committee to consider an amendment to the Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licence conditions and the Private Hire Vehicle Licence conditions so that the requirement to display a vehicle identification card within a Hackney Carriage Vehicle or Private Hire Vehicle no longer applies with effect from 27 March 2023.

The Licensing Manager reported that it had been identified that the information on the card was not easily accessible to passengers in the rear of Private Hire Vehicles as it was usually displayed on the dashboard of the vehicle.  The Licensing Manager further advised that whilst it may be more visible inside a Hackney Carriage Vehicle, details of the licence number of this type of vehicle is also displayed on a light box inside the vehicle and the information identifying the vehicle is replicated on the light box.  Members of the Committee were informed that details of both Hackney Carriage and Private Hire vehicles are also displayed on licence plates attached to the vehicle and details of the driver are on the badge worn by the driver and carried within the vehicle.

The Licensing Manager informed Members of the Committee that should the condition be removed this would result in an approximate saving of £2,722 during the financial year 2023/24 which could be taken into account when determining vehicle licence fees.

In response to questions from Members, the Licensing Manager advised that officers had raised the question regarding the necessity to have the window card and following some deliberation it had been considered that there would be no risk to the public in removing the requirement.

Resolved (by assent) – That the Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licence conditions and the Private Hire Vehicle Licence conditions be amended so that the requirement to display a vehicle identification card within a Hackney Carriage Vehicle or Private Hire Vehicle no longer applies with effect from 27 March 2023.