The Licensing Committee met to discuss revisions to the Street Trading Policy and the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy. The committee agreed to recommend revisions to both policies, which will now be passed to the Lead Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Licensing for final approval. The revisions to the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy include extending the deadline for all licensed vehicles to be zero or ultra-low emission to 1 December 2030, subject to review in 2027.

Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy Revisions

The Licensing Committee agreed to recommend that the Lead Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Licensing approves revisions to the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy, subject to the Licensing Chair approving the final draft. The committee also agreed that any minor revisions to the policy would be delegated to the Head of Climate, Environment and Waste in consultation with Councillor Annika Osborne, Chair of Licensing Committee.

The key proposed revision to the policy is to extend the deadline for all licensed hackney carriage and private hire vehicles to be zero or ultra-low emission from 1 December 2028 to 1 December 2030, subject to review in 2027.

The report notes that the current licensing policy states:

By no later than 1 December 2028, all licensed hackney carriage and private hire vehicles must be zero or ultra low emission. This is to recognise South Cambridgeshire District Council's adoption of the global climate and health emergency action plan to deliver a zero carbon future for South Cambridgeshire, and to coincide with the restrictions for Cambridge City Centre access for ultra-low and zero emission licensed vehicles only. This aspect will be kept under review and may be modified by the Authority at a prior date.

In February 2025, the trade were consulted on how the current policy would impact them. On 8 May 2025, the Licensing Committee held a workshop to discuss the feedback, and agreed to seek views on extending the deadline to 2030.

A further consultation with the trade saw 482 respondents in support of extending the deadline to 2030, and 32 not supportive of extending the deadline.

Those in favour of retaining the current policy stated:

• They had already bought electric vehicles as per council advice, and it would be unfair to extend the deadline.
• There is enough time until 2028 for everyone to upgrade their vehicle.
• Cambridge should be front and centre in helping lower emissions for the sake of our climate.

Those in favour of extending the policy deadline stated:

• They wished this was not going to happen at all, as they live in flats and have nowhere to charge their car.
• They would need help buying an electric car as it will cost a lot of money.
• The extension should reflect the government's target of 2035.
• Extending the deadline would give them a bit of relief in the current financial situation.

The report notes that transport accounts for over half the district's carbon footprint, with 98% of these emissions coming from road traffic. It also notes that the District Council has limited influence over transport policy and provision, and taxi licensing remains among the few areas where South Cambridgeshire District Council can influence transport providers.

The report also acknowledges:

• The challenges in building charging infrastructure capacity.
• The existing economic pressures on the trade.
• That implementing the existing policy might result in no overall reduction in carbon emissions from taxi vehicles operating in South Cambridgeshire, as drivers could license with another authority and continue to operate in the district.

Street Trading Policy Revisions

The Licensing Committee agreed that the Street Trading Policy be published with amendments. The committee also agreed that any minor revisions to the policy would be delegated to the Head of Climate, Environment and Waste in consultation with Councillor Annika Osborne, Chair of Licensing Committee. The Street Trading Policy has been in place since March 2022, and workshops have been held with members of the committee to discuss the changes.

The proposed revisions include the introduction of a new ice cream trader consent, which would require all vendors and assistants to be licensed. The consent would be subject to additional conditions, including that traders must obtain permission from the relevant parish or town council to trade in the location, and obtain permission from schools before trading in the immediate vicinity of the education establishment.

Other revisions include authorising the principal officer or service manager to revoke consents, with the right of appeal to the Licensing Appeals Committee.

The committee suggested clarifying what constituted 'evidence' for the street trading policy, for example, diary logs, written records, photographs, or video footage. Officers agreed to insert examples in the policy.

The committee discussed potential risks in photographing children, and officers confirmed it is lawful to photograph in public, including children, where reasonable, proportionate and necessary, though it should not be a formal policy requirement.

Questions were raised about whether home-based food sales fell within the policy. Officers confirmed such activity was governed by separate environmental health legislation, food safety registration was mandatory, and residential premises were not consented premises for street trading purposes.

The renewal deadline wording was softened from must to should submit four weeks before expiry. Officers explained this gave flexibility where traders submitted incomplete applications or where administrative delays may have occurred.

Gambling Act 2005 - Review of Statement of Licensing Policy

The Principal Licensing Officer introduced the report, highlighting that under the Gambling Act 2005, the council must review and publish its Statement of Licensing Policy every three years. No substantive changes to the current policy were proposed, which took effect on 31 January 2022 and expires on 31 January 2025.

Consultation had taken place with all statutory consultees and all 104 parish councils in the district, and two responses were received, both from parish councils. It was noted that broadly speaking it suggested that parish councils had not had any issues about gambling reported to them in their parishes.

The Licensing Committee agreed to recommend that Council adopt the Statement of Licensing Policy under the Gambling Act 2005 for a period of up to three years from 31 January 2025.