Agenda item

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

10.45 am

RESOLVED that the application for a Private Hire Vehicle Licence be granted subject to the additional conditions as detailed in Appendix 3 to the report.

A confidential report by the Head of Planning, Public Protection and Countryside Services (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 supporting evidence submitted by the Applicant, 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 Enforcement Officer (KB) summarised the report and facts of the case.

The Applicant presented his case and referred to supporting documentation which had been previously circulated with the report.  He was an established and reputable operator of specialist vehicles and provided some background to the type of business operated which catering for a niche market.  Reference was made to the merits of the proposed specialist vehicle for licensing together with maintenance and service schedules, supported by a local garage.  The application was for a specialist vehicle with limited use for special events, maintained to a high standard and met all legal and safety requirements.

In response to questions, the Applicant clarified that his intention was to upgrade and replace his existing licensed vehicle rather than adding to the fleet.  In terms of previous maintenance regimes, the Applicant had details of the vehicle’s previous service history and MOTs and the vehicle had been inspected to his satisfaction; he also gave assurances as to future ongoing maintenance regimes.  Finally, he confirmed that he was willing to comply with the additional licensing conditions for the vehicle in question as set out in the report.

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 3 to the report.

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

Members had carefully considered the application, officer’s report and the case put forward by the Applicant both in writing in advance of the meeting and at the meeting itself.

In reaching their decision, the Committee noted the nature and type of business operated, the vehicle in question with low mileage and few specialist journeys and that the Applicant was a reputable, long established operator of such specialist services.  On that basis, having considered specifically the above, and the strict bi-annual maintenance service by Fleet Services, 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, as set out in Appendix 3 to the report.

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

[As an aside, the Committee noted that it was likely that a separate policy in respect of specialist vehicle types would be produced in future, either as part of the Welsh Government’s reform of taxi licensing or via the Council’s own policy framework.]

The meeting concluded at 11.20 am.