Agenda item - Blue Book Amendment - Private Hire Roof Signs

Report of the Executive Director, Housing, Neighbourhoods and Communities

(copy attached)

RESOLVED - That Members agree to remove the requirement for compulsory roof signs on Private Hire Vehicles. Proprietors that continue to have a roof sign on their vehicle must continue with the current specifications regarding livery.

26.1    The Committee considered a report of the Interim Director, Housing, Neighbourhoods and Communities asking Members to consider whether Private Hire Vehicles(PHV) should no longer be required to have a roof sign.

26.2    It was explained that it was proposed to change the current mandatory requirement for PHV to have roof signs to one whereby it was at the proprietor’s discretion. The current requirement had been in place for 30 years and with the arrival of app-based booking systems this had become less relevant. PHV’s would still be required to have front and rear door signage as well as displaying a plate on the rear of the vehicle.

26.3    Councillor Ebel sought confirmation that this would not impact adversely on customers requiring a WAV as she had concerns that it could.

26.4    Councillor Wares stated that it appeared that the requirement for roof signage had been by-passed by modern technology and on that basis he did not consider that it should continue to be mandatory.

26.5    RESOLVED - That Members agree to remove the requirement for compulsory roof signs on Private Hire Vehicles. Proprietors that continue to have a roof sign on their vehicle must continue with the current specifications regarding livery.