Plans to reintroduce an age limit on private hire cars in Glasgow have been postponed to allow drivers, who fear the financial consequences of the move, to be heard.
Before the covid pandemic, cars used by private hire drivers had to be replaced after seven years. The council lifted the policy during the pandemic to help the trade, which was suffering as a result of lockdown restrictions.
It is now proposing to bring the limit back but decision has been delayed after a complaint by the Scottish Private Hire Association (SPHA), which had not been invited to a meeting with trade representatives.
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Councillors met yesterday [Wednesday] to vote on the policy and agreed to continue the issue to allow the association, and other interested parties, to make representations. SPHA members were in attendance at the meeting.
Eddie Grice, from the SPHA, has raised concerns over the planned change, which drivers believe would “negatively impact” their finances.
They believe that could have “public safety implications” if drivers are forced to work for longer to “make ends meet”. Some drivers have called for the age limit to be lifted to at least 10 years.
The policy, introduced in 2006, states a vehicle must not be more than five years old when first registered with the council and, at seven years old, vehicles must be “taken out of service and replaced”.
However, the council agreed the order should be “temporarily relaxed” during the pandemic to “help the trade due to the difficulty in sourcing newer vehicles and the loss of income experienced by operators”.
A report by licensing officials stated, after a meeting with the trade, most representatives were “in favour of the seven year age policy being brought back into effect”. If reintroduced, there would be a “reasonable implementation period” to allow drivers to source cars.
Under the policy, the city’s licensing committee can refuse applications for private hire car licences, or suspend existing licences, if the vehicle is over the age limit.
Cllr Alex Wilson, the licensing committee chairman, said there had been an “oversight” and recommended continuing the item to allow more time for representations to be submitted.
“I think it is only fair that they have a proper chance to provide representation to the committee so we can discuss that at length,” he said, adding the committee wants to be “open and transparent”.
Mr Grice said the postponement was a “class act” by the council. “This isn’t just a stay of execution for the many drivers and vehicle owners that this policy will negatively affect,” he said. “It is also a huge win for democracy and for workforce organising.”
He thanked officials for investigating the complaint and the committee for delaying its decision. A date has yet to be set for the future hearing.
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