Agenda and minutes

Apolgies from Councillors Cox and Rollason.

None.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meetings held on the 14^th October 2020, 29^th October 2020 and 26^th November 2020.

The minutes of the meetings held on the 14^th October 2020, 29^th October 2020 and 26^th November 2020 were approved as a correct record and will be signed at a later date.

The Licensing Manager presented the report to the committee to seek approval for the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy to be amended, to meet the Department of Transport statutory standards.

Councillor Hocking proposed the amendments to the policy be approved and Councillor Nutley seconded this.

Members voted.

RESOLVED

Unanimously agreed that the amendments to the policy be approved to meet the Department of Transport statutory standards.

Consideration was given to an application for a Private Hire Vehicle Licence Extension for a Volkswagen Transporter vehicle registration LF05 YMZ. The vehicle will be over 15 years old being registered in March 2005.

The Licensing Manager referred to the agenda report and the committee considered photos of the vehicle. It was noted that the vehicle has a valid MOT until January 2021 and it had failed the recent taxi inspection test due to being SORN.

The Applicant attended in support of the application.

All vehicle licences are issued annually and Section 43 of the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 provides that a hackney carriage vehicle licence may only be in force for a maximum period of one year.

The Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy provides that vehicles being presented for subsequent licensing are required to be under ten years old. The Council has the discretion to continue to licence vehicles which are older than ten years provided that the Council is satisfied that such a vehicle is in a good condition and good state of repair, and provided that it passes the appropriate testing standard.

The above Policy and statutory provisions reflect the Council’s responsibility to ensure that all hackney carriage and private hire vehicles are safe and fit for use.

RESOLVED - The vehicle registration LF05 YMZ, Volkswagen Transporter, be approved for a 12 month Private Hire Vehicle Licence Extension, in accordance with legislation subject to the vehicle passing its MOT and paperwork being provided to show that it has been taxed.

Reason for Decision

Having considered photos of the vehicle, read all written material, and listened to the representation by the Applicant and the Licensing Manager, the Licensing and Regulatory Committee was satisfied with the general standard of the vehicle, the state of repair, and the condition of the vehicle. Therefore it was considered the vehicle was fit for use for the general public and paying customers.

Consideration was given to an application for a Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licence Extension for a Seat Alhambra vehicle registration ML60 WRX. The vehicle will be over 10 years old being registered in September 2010.

The Licensing Manager referred to the agenda report and the committee considered photos of the vehicle. It was noted that the vehicle had passed its MOT on 17 December 2020 and it had passed the recent taxi inspection test with one advisory.

All vehicle licences are issued annually and Section 43 of the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 provides that a hackney carriage vehicle licence may only be in force for a maximum period of one year.

The Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy provides that vehicles being presented for subsequent licensing are required to be under ten years old. The Council has the discretion to continue to licence vehicles which are older than ten years provided that the Council is satisfied that such a vehicle is in a good condition and good state of repair, and provided that it passes the appropriate testing standard.

The above Policy and statutory provisions reflect the Council’s responsibility to ensure that all hackney carriage and private hire vehicles are safe and fit for use.

RESOLVED - The vehicle registration ML60 WRX, Seat Alhambra, be approved for a 12 month Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licence Extension, in accordance with legislation subject to four monthly taxi inspection tests due to the high mileage of the vehicle.

Reason for Decision

Having considered photos of the vehicle, read all written material, and listened to the representation by the Licensing Manager, the Licensing and Regulatory Committee was satisfied with the general standard of the vehicle, the state of repair, and the condition of the vehicle. Therefore it was considered the vehicle was fit for use for the general public and paying customers.