brightonbreezy wrote:
I have listed below Brighton’s conditions of licensing both for H/C and PH Vehicles followed by Adur’s as I understand it.
BTN Hack Saloon & E7 Type
Max age at first Licensing 3 years
When I spoke to Brighton licensing today they told me 4 years at first issue but thats not to say you are wrong. Many as a time Licensing staff have got it completely wrong.
Quote:
Max age allowed 7 Years
Adur Hack Saloon
Max age at first Licensing 5 Years
Max Age Unlimited Two MOT’s after 10 years of age
BTN Hack P/B
Max age at first Licensing 5 years
Max age allowed 10 years
Adur Hack P/B
Max age at first licensing 5 years
Max age allowed unlimited two MOT’s after 10 Years
BTN PH
Max age at first Licensing 5 years
Max age allowed 10 years
Adur PH
Max age at first licence 5 years
Max age allowed unlimited two mots after 10 years of age
In my opinion Brighton & Hove City Council have higher standards than Adur District. They do not allow vehicles past their upper age limits unlike Adur. Hack Saloon cars from Brighton are newer at First Licensing and younger when taken off. As you can see both PH and Hack P/B are the same with the exception of Adur allowing the upper age limit to be limitless as long as the vehicle has two MOT’s a year.
Your information is extremely accurate, the only thing that differed with Brighton's Licensing office is the age limit at first license. Both authorities test yearly as you know, excepting the twice yearly test Adur undertake when vehicles reach a certain age. I must admit I wasn't aware of the twice yearly test.
In respect of vehicle age Bill Nailen is of the opinion that vehicles in this day and age are made to last longer than a seven year shelf life. He is also of the opinion that if a vehicle is perfectly roadworthy and able to pass a test then it shouldn't be put on the scrap heap. He told me that he works closely with the hackney carriage trade and he is not about put vehicles off the road just because they reach a certain age. Having said that he also told me that the majority of the vehicles in Adur are no older than five years.
There seems to be a difference of opinion about the age at first license, so if the LO is right and it is four years then there isn't much of a difference between Brighton and Adur? On the otherhand, if the difference is three years as you say, then two years could probably be counted as a significant difference but perhaps not a huge difference? Some would no doubt say that vehicle age is irrelevant and what matters most is the mileage?
I suspect a seven year old saloon vehicle in Brighton is no different than a seven year old saloon vehicle in Adur? And that there is no discernible difference between a ten year old purpose built vehicle in either authority?
I therefore suggest that the GMB reference to vehicle standards, relates to vehicles over seven years of age? The only problem here is that, a vehicle of 8 years of age might have done less mileage, than one of 7?
There is no doubt that as far as age goes, Brighton's hackney carriage saloon policy is stricter than Adur but does that mean that the vehicles are not licensed to the same standards as Brighton? Are both you and the GMB saying, that apart from the 7 year maximum age limit Adur's vehicle testing standards are not on a par with Brighton? If you are not saying that then we can narrow the meaning of standards down to two points, first the two, or possibly one year difference in age of vehicle at first license and second, the licensing of Adur vehicles beyond the 7 year ceiling, placed on Brighton vehicles.
Perhaps if the GMB had come out and stated that their members in Brighton were not happy with vehicles from neighbouring authorities being licensed over the age of 7, then we might have been a little more understanding of which way they were coming from? On the other hand it could be argued that a vehicle aged 8 or 9 has to undertake the same examination as that of a vehicle aged 7. Therefore who is to say that older vehicles are not as roadworthy as the vehicle aged 7?
I think the sting in the Tail is the statement that says "vehicles and drivers are not licensed to the same standards". It turns out thanks to you that we finally have some idea of what the Brighton GMB define as standards? They define standards as any saloon vehicle older than 7 years, which is licensed and any vehicle older than 3 or perhaps 4 years? Which is licensed?
Would that be correct?
Would it be fare to say that there are licensing authorities with stricter vehicle age limits and frequency of testing, than Brighton? Would it be right for councillors and representatives in these authorities to state that vehicles and drivers in Brighton are not licensed to the same standards as themselves?
I don't think the age of a vehicle under these closely matched circumstances can relate to lower standards. We have no option other than to rely on licensing authorities maintaining a certain standard, no matter how old the vehicle? Perhaps we should ask the question where does quality of vehicle end and standards begin? Using a hypothetical example, in respect of an older, vehicle does a policy of tighter smoke emissions make it of a higher standard than a lesser policy in relation to a vehicle a year younger?
I think the GMB is confusing standards with vehicle age? I'm sure there are some who might question the inference that a vehicle one year younger than theirs, is of a better standard, without having first hand knowledge of its condition?
The debate on vehicles has been joined we now need to clarify what the GMB meant when it said drivers from other authorities were not licensed to the same standards as Brighton?
Regards
JD
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