Issue - meetings

To consider a report by the Head of Planning and Public Protection (copy enclosed) detailing proposed amendments to the existing hackney carriage and private hire vehicle specifications.

RESOLVED that the amendments to the hackney carriage and private hire vehicle specifications as detailed in Appendix A to the report be approved with immediate effect.

The Licensing Officer (NJ) submitted a report (previously circulated) detailing proposed amendments to the existing hackney carriage and private hire vehicle specifications for members’ consideration.

The existing hackney carriage and private hire vehicle policy, together with vehicle specification and conditions, had been approved by the Licensing Committee in December 2016 following extensive consultation and came into effect on 1 July 2017.  The Licensing Committee held on 18 October 2017 had resolved to deviate from the policy specification with regard to minimum legroom requirements and requested that officers review the current specification policy, in particular the vehicle seating specification, and report back as soon as practicable.  Details of the proposed amendments had been included as an appendix to the report.

Members noted that, apart from amendments for clarification purposes, the majority of the proposed amendments removed the more restrictive vehicle specifications in favour of the vehicles being “type approved” as they had already been deemed fit for purpose to carry the number of passengers as detailed on the vehicle registration documents.  Upon being put to the vote it was –

RESOLVED that the amendments to the hackney carriage and private hire vehicle specifications as detailed in Appendix A to the report be approved with immediate effect.