The Licensing Committee of Charnwood Council is scheduled to meet on 14 October 2025 to discuss several licensing matters. The main item on the agenda is a review of the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy, with a focus on updating vehicle emission standards and incentivising the use of electric vehicles. The committee will also look at the frequency of vehicle testing and driver medical requirements.

Taxi Policy Review

The committee is expected to review proposed changes to the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy, as detailed in the Taxi Policy Review report. The aim is to ensure the policy reflects national guidance, environmental objectives, and current best practices. Following the committee's review, a six-week public consultation is planned to gather feedback on the proposed changes.

The key areas of the policy under consideration are:

• Vehicle Emission Standards: The council is considering introducing a minimum emission standard, such as Euro 6¹, for all new and renewed Hackney Carriage and Private Hire vehicle licences. This proposal aligns with the council's climate change strategy and aims to improve air quality. The report notes that as of now, 56% (104) of licensed vehicles already meet the Euro 6 standard, while 44% (83) do not. The report also notes that retrofitting an older vehicle to meet the Euro 6 standard would cost approximately £5,000. The report asks the committee to consider setting implementation dates and grandfather rights² for current licence holders.

• Financial Incentives for Electric Vehicles: The council is exploring offering reduced licence fees for fully electric vehicles. The level of discount is yet to be determined, with the report suggesting a 50% reduction for new applications and 20% for renewals. The report notes that while this would save money for vehicle owners, it would result in a reduction in licensing income for Charnwood Borough Council (CBC).

• Vehicle Testing Frequency: The council is considering moving to a risk-based testing frequency, with annual testing for newer vehicles (0-3 years old) and six-monthly testing for vehicles over a certain age (3+ years old). The report asks the committee to consider at what age a vehicle should be tested every 6 months.

• Driver Medicals/Fitness to Drive: The council is consulting on the requirement for drivers to undergo a Group 2 standard medical examination every three to five years. The report notes that while retaining the current policy of 3 years would allow the expiry of the medical to align perfectly with the 3-year licence, moving to a 5-year medical cycle would result in the medical expiry being a different year to the driver licence expiry, creating a new administration process. The report also notes that the cost of a driver medical is approximately £80-£120.

The report states that the Department for Transport (DFT) updated its best practice guidance in 2023, highlighting the importance of:

• Keeping policies under regular review
• Promoting public safety, transparency, and accessibility
• Encouraging the adoption of cleaner and more modern vehicles
• Using licensing powers to support wider environmental and public health goals

The consultation, if approved, is proposed to run from 27 October 2025 to 7 December 2025 and will include direct engagement with the taxi and private hire trade, consultation with disability groups, environmental bodies, and the general public, and the use of social media to promote engagement. A draft policy will then be presented to the Licensing Committee in February 2026 for consideration and approval.

Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Principles

The minutes of the previous Licensing Committee meeting on 15 October 2024 include a discussion of the Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Principles. The Head of Regulatory and Community Safety and the Licensing Manager assisted with consideration of the report. The committee considered a report from the Head of Regulatory and Community Safety on the Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Principles. The report indicated that no significant changes to the Statement were proposed as a result of the review/update. The consultation on the Statement had ended on 11 October, and four responses had been received. Gamble Aware³ had recommended that the council further develop local area profiles, which officers would do to assist in identifying where additional licence conditions might be appropriate due to a higher level of risk of individuals suffering gambling harms. It was anticipated that the Statement would come into effect on 31 January 2025, subject to required approvals and notice. The committee discussed the need to consider the risk of gambling to younger age groups, and the protections outlined within the Statement in respect of this concern. The committee noted that the council's regulatory powers in relation to gambling applied only to high street establishments, and that gambling was otherwise regulated by other bodies such as the Gambling Commission⁴. The committee also noted that those for whom gambling had become a problem could be signposted to a number of services, including by their GP, and that public health was currently particularly focused on this area. The committee resolved that, following consultation with relevant stakeholders, it would recommend to Council that the updated Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Principles be approved.