Agenda item

To consider a confidential report by the Head of Planning and Public Protection (copy enclosed) seeking members’ determination of an application for a Private Hire Vehicle Licence.

RESOLVED that the application for a Private Hire Vehicle Licence be granted subject to the additional conditions as detailed in Appendix 2 to the report.

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

(i)            an application having been received for a Private Hire Vehicle Licence;

(ii)          officers having not been in a position to grant the application as the vehicle presented for licensing did not comply with the Council’s policy with regard to the five year age limit for vehicles licensed under a new application;

(iii)         additional conditions being applicable to the licensing of specialist vehicle types such as the one presented in this case together with photographs of the vehicle subject of the application, and

(iv)         the Applicant having been invited to attend the meeting in support of the application and to answer members’ questions thereon.

The Applicant was in attendance and confirmed he had received the report and committee procedures.

The Licensing Officer summarised the report and explained that the Applicant initially presented the vehicle as a substitute vehicle for licensing at the Committee’s last meeting but on reflection had proceeded with the original vehicle as detailed on his application form which was subsequently granted.  However the Applicant had never used the licensed vehicle and instead preferred to licence the substitute vehicle.  The Council’s policy specified that vehicles subject of a new application must be no older than five years and the vehicle presented for licensing was eleven years old.  Consequently members were asked to consider the Applicant’s request to depart from the Council’s policy and grant the application.

The Applicant presented his case advising that he was a responsible, long established specialist vehicle operator but had fallen foul of the new vehicle age specification.  He referred to his presentation before the last Licensing Committee when he was granted a vehicle licence, contrary to the five year age limit, on the basis of the vehicle type, being a specialist luxury vehicle used for specific pre booked occasions and events.  Since purchasing that vehicle he had acquired a newer, superior model – hence his subsequent application to the Licensing Committee.  In elaborating upon the merits of the proposed vehicle for licensing he provided evidence of maintenance and service schedules together with assurances regarding high vehicle standards.  In response to questions he further elaborated upon the nature and operation of his business.  The Applicant indicated that he had nothing further to add in terms of a final statement.

At this juncture the committee adjourned to consider the application and it was –

RESOLVED that the application for a Private Hire Vehicle Licence be granted subject to the additional conditions as detailed in Appendix 2 to the report.

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

Members had carefully considered the application and case put forward by the Applicant and noted the nature and type of business operated and that he was a reputable and long established operator of such specialist services.  On that basis and having considered specifically the type of vehicle proposed to be licensed members agreed that a case had been made to deviate from their age limit policy in this instance and grant the application as applied for, subject to the additional conditions applicable to the specialist vehicle type.

The Committee’s decision and reasons therefore were conveyed to the Applicant.