Purpose

To determine whether the Council should remove
hackney carriage zones in North Northamptonshire following a
consultation process

Content

RESOLVED
 
KEY DECISION
 
That the Executive:
a.   
Considered the report and consultation
responses;

 
b.   
Agreed to replace the current four hackney carriage
zones with a single  North
Northamptonshire Council (NNC) zone from 1st April
2025;
 
c.    
Agreed that officers will consult upon the reviewed
geographical / knowledge test prior to the introduction of a single
zone; and

 
d.   
Agreed that the Director for Place and Economy and
Director for Law and Governance review the current Hackney Carriage
Byelaws and present the revised Byelaws to Council.

 
Reason
for Recommendations in relation to the zones - following the
alignment of the hackney carriage tariff of fares and
implementation of one Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy
covering the whole of NNC’s area, the retention of four
separate zones for hackney carriage licencing needed further
consideration. The Licensing and Appeals Committee agreed a
proposal to the Executive to replace the current four hackney
carriage zones with one NNC zone.
Reason for Recommendations in relation to the byelaws - the
review of the zones necessitates a review of the byelaws which
govern hackney carriage licensing.

 
Alternative Options Considered in relation to the
zones:

i)     
Take no action and retain the current four hackney
carriage zones.

ii)    
Determine that the zones should be removed, and the
process required to implement this decision immediately
begins.

iii)  
Determine that the zones should be removed, but that
there should be a delayed implementation date, so that grandfather
rights permitted under the existing Hackney Carriage and Private
Hire Licensing Policy have expired, meaning that there are
harmonised vehicle standards. This would delay implementation until
1st April 2028.

 
Alternative Option Considered in relation to the byelaws - the
Executive could : Take no action and retain the current Hackney
Carriage Byelaws.