Issue - meetings

To consider a confidential report by the Head of Planning and Public Protection (copy enclosed) seeking members’ determination of a request for dispensation from the requirement to display licence plates on a Private Hire Vehicle.

RESOLVED that –

(a)       the request for dispensation from the requirement to display the private hire vehicle licence plate and door stickers be approved subject to the conditions as detailed in Appendix B to the report, and

(b)       officers be authorised to amend the committee’s forward work programme to include a draft policy on Private Hire Vehicle Licence Plate Exemption to be scheduled at a future meeting.

[This item was brought forward on the agenda with the consent of the Chair]

A confidential report by the Head of Planning and Public Protection (previously circulated) was submitted upon –

(i)            an application for dispensation from the requirement to display licence plates on a Private Hire Vehicle;

(ii)          the Council’s powers to grant a proprietor dispensation from displaying the licence plate taking into account the executive nature of the work along with the quality of the vehicle involved and where the vehicle would be operated;

(iii)         the applicant having provided full details of both the vehicle and nature of the business (Appendix A to the report), and

(iv)         other determining factors requiring consideration and suggested conditions (Appendix B to the report) should members be minded to grant the dispensation request.

The Licensing Officer provided a summary of the report which also recommended the production of a policy on private hire vehicle licence plate exemption to enable future applications to be considered in a consistent manner.

The Applicant was in attendance at the meeting and elaborated upon the operation and nature of his business and reasoning behind his request for dispensation.  He confirmed he had read the proposed conditions to be attached to the dispensation if granted which included signing an undertaking that he fully understood and accepted those conditions.  In determining the request for dispensation it was –

RESOLVED that –

(a)       the request for dispensation from the requirement to display the private hire vehicle licence plate and door stickers be approved subject to the conditions as detailed in Appendix B to the report, and

(b)       officers be authorised to amend the committee’s forward work programme to include a draft policy on Private Hire Vehicle Licence Plate Exemption to be scheduled at a future meeting.

The reasons for the Licensing Committee’s decision were as follows –

Having considered the report and submission of the Applicant members were satisfied that the nature of the work and quality of the vehicle involved met the criteria for exemption in this case.  The conditions had been imposed in order to aid regulation and enforcement.