Decisions

The Committee considered an application for a Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licence renewal and extension for a Ford Mondeo Vehicle registration LR09 YTX. The vehicle is over 10 years old being registered May 2009.

The Committee adjourned to inspect the vehicle.

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.

The Committee noted that the vehicle has a valid MOT until March 2020, and the advisories have been rectified.  The vehicle passed a recent taxi inspection, and all issues raised by the Licensing Officer following her inspection have been rectified.

The Applicant attended the hearing to support the application.

Resolved

The Ford Mondeo Vehicle registration LR09 YTX be approved for a 12 month renewable Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licence, in accordance with legislation subject to sixmonthly taxi tests.

Reason for Decision

Having inspected the vehicle, read all written material, and listened to the representation by the Applicant and the Licensing Officer, the 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, is fit for use for the general public and paying customers.

RESOLVED that the Forward Plan be noted.

RESOLVED that the Armed Forces Covenant Action Plan be approved and the plan be reviewed in six months to monitor progress and to add any further actions that may be required.

RESOLVED that plans to consult with major preceptors and the public on proposals to introduce a new working-age Council Tax Reduction Scheme for the year 2020-21 be approved.

It is recommended that the Council maintain overall support at current levels and that the following key features of our current scheme be retained:

o   Maintain maximum support at 100%

o   Maintain an Exceptional Hardship Scheme

o   Continue to award 100% support to passported claims

o   Disregard disability related benefits when calculating income

o   Disregard child benefit and child maintenance when calculating income

o   Disregard War disablement/widows pension when calculating income

o   Limit the no. of dependent children in the calculation to a maximum of two for all new claimants

o   Apply the minimum income floor for self-employed claimants

o   Capital limit of £6,000

o   Allow for childcare costs

It is recommended that the following additional features are included in the new scheme:

o   Disregard Carers Allowance when calculating income

o   Disregard Employment and Support Allowance (support element) when calculating income

o   Replace current variable earnings disregard with a standard £25 disregard for all

o   Incorporate a Return to Work Incentive for Universal Credit claimants and others by paying support for a period of one month beyond the return to work date.

o   Apply the current two dependent children limit used in the calculation to existing claimants

o   Remove non-dependent deductions from the scheme

o   Disregard payments made under the Windrush Compensation Scheme, We Love Manchester Emergency Fund and similar Government funded compensation schemes

o   Reduction to be awarded from the date of change as opposed to the ‘Monday following’ the date of change

o   Remove the requirement for good cause to be proven before backdating the award.

o   Increase the 1 month back-date time limit to 12 months.

o   Remove the restriction that limits support to maximum Band D property.

RESOLVED that:-

(1)          Newton Abbot’s status as a Garden Community be confirmed;

(2)          Teignbridge District Council support for the Exeter and East Devon Garden Communities status be confirmed; and

(3)          Receipt of associated ‘capacity funding’ from Government be agreed.