Agenda item

Exemptions for the Emission Policy

To consider the Exemptions for the Emission Policy report.

Minutes:

 Councillor Lees left the meeting at 7.55pm.

 

The Senior Licensing and Compliance Officer (JL) introduced the report reviewing the Licensed Vehicle Emissions Policy. He said the current Emissions Policy had come into effect on 1 April 2020, which dictated that licensed vehicles met or exceeded a prescribed European emission standard. There were variations to the standard, which depended on factors such as the type of fuel and whether the vehicle was already licensed by the Council. The Policy also stated that “each application would be considered on its own merits”. He highlighted recommendations  2.2 and 2.3 as stated in the report.

 

In response to a question from councilor Loughlin, the Chair said that only seventeen vehicles would be covered by the proposed exemption – this was not a blanket policy. Non-wheelchair accessible vehicles that did not meet the emissions standard would have their licences revoked after a period of 6 months following the official announcement that social distancing guidelines had been completely relaxed, or after 1 April 2025, whichever date occurred sooner; Wheelchair accessible vehicles would given until 1 April 2026 to meet the emissions standard.

 

Councillor Freeman said he was nervous about granting exemptions to polluting vehicles, although he understood the need to retain licenses for wheelchair accessible vehicles.

 

In response to a question from Councillor Barker regarding the April 2025 “backstop”, the Senior Licensing and Compliance Officer (JL) said the date was chosen as there was complete uncertainty when social distancing measures would come to an end.

 

In response to a question from Councillor Tayler, the Senior Licensing and Compliance Officer (JL) said annual checks were made on the seventeen vehicles that would be covered by the exemption. They were road worthy.

 

The Chair said there was a “trade-off” in terms of the utility of larger vehicles in a time of social distancing. Whilst larger vehicles did create more pollution, they also enabled drivers to carry more than one person at a time.

 

Councillor Day said the proposal was reasonable; not all of the drivers covered by the exemption policy worked for large organisations, and the five years’ grace period would allow them to save for a cleaner vehicle.

           

            RESOLVED that:

 

I.              Vehicles that were granted exemptions under the Licensed Vehicle Emissions Policy but that are not wheelchair accessible, should either have their licences revoked after a period of 6 months following the date of an official announcement by the UK Government that social distancing guidance has been completely relaxed, or will have any application made to renew their licences refused after 1 April 2025, whichever sooner.

 

II.            Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles to be given a later date for the implementation of a prescribed minimum European Emission Standard. Licensing Officers recommend a minimum European Emission 6 for both new licences and renewed licences after 1 April 2025. This would in practice mean that all Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles by 1 April 2026 will be no more than 12 years old. Using the figures in 6.10, only 7 of those vehicles would meet the minimum Standard by this date.

 

III.           All licensed vehicles would continue to be required to undergo 2 mechanical inspections per year at a Council approved testing station, alongside the mandatory MOT, therefore alleviating any potential concern over the roadworthiness of an older vehicle.

 

IV.          All other parts of the existing Policy to remain in force. This includes the discretion to deviate from the Policy as referenced in 1.3, however a strong business case would be required in writing for the Licensing Manger to approve.

 

Supporting documents: