North Yorkshire Council
General Licensing and Registration Sub-Committee
30 January 2026 – Time 12:00pm
Application for the renewal of a Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licence – 324B
Report of the Corporate Director – Environment
1.0 PURPOSE OF REPORT
1.1 This report asks the Sub-Committee to consider an application for the renewal of a Hackney carriage vehicle licence. The application does not comply with the standard criteria as stated in the Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy (“the Policy”) in that the vehicle is over 10 years of age since first registration. Such vehicles may be licensed at the discretion of the General Licensing and Registration Sub Committee.
2.0 BACKGROUND
2.1 A renewal application was lodged on 10 January 2026. Hackney carriage journeys are authorised between the date of the application and the date of determination. The applicant is entitled to exercise continuation rights until a decision is made regarding the renewal. A copy of the application form is attached at Appendix A.
2.2 As the vehicle is over 10 years of age it does not comply with the vehicle age criteria outlined in the Policy paragraph 47 which requires vehicles to be less than 10-years old from the date of first registration. The vehicle was first licensed as a hackney carriage on 14 February 2024 and the current licence expires on 31 January 2026.
2.3 Details of the vehicle are as follows:
Make: Volkswagen
Model: Touran SE
Colour: Blue
First Registration: 31/03/2015
Mileage: 278,000 (as of 22/12/2025)
Fuel Type: Diesel
Engine Size: 1968cc
CO₂Emission 135 g/km
2.4 All applicants are required to produce the following documents before a licence will be renewed:
i. Proof that the licensing authority’s testing arrangements have been satisfied; and
ii. A current vehicle insurance certificate or cover note which includes the carriage of passengers for public hire.
iii. Confirmation the vehicle has a satisfactory MOT test certificate.
iv. The vehicle registration document (V5C)
v. A certificate of meter calibration
The applicant has produced the requisite documents identified and these have been deemed satisfactory by the Licensing Team.
2.5 A copy of the last 4 vehicle Council inspection test certificates are attached at Appendix B.
2.6 A copy of the MOTs since the date of licensing are attached at Appendix C.
2.7 According to the registration document, attached at Appendix D, the vehicle in question was first registered on 31 March 2015 and is over 10 years old.
2.8 The applicant has also included an explanation as to why they would like the vehicle to continue as a hackney carriage vehicle along with some photographs which are attached at Appendix E.
2.9 Members are encouraged to view the vehicle prior to making their decision.
3.0 ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED
3.1 All of the Sub-Committee’s options are outlined in paragraph 10.0. No alternative options are available.
4.0 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
4.1 No financial implications have been identified.
5.0 LEGAL IMPLICATIONS
5.1 The Licensing Authority must determine an application for the grant of a hackney vehicle licence in accordance with relevant legislation and the Council’s Policy.
5.2 The applicant may appeal against the decision of the Sub-Committee if it decides not to grant the application. An appeal must be made to the Magistrates’ Court within 21 days of receiving notification of the decision.
5.3 The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 and the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 requires that Hackney Carriage Vehicles are to be licensed.
5.4 Section 47 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 allows the local authority to attach any conditions that the district council may consider reasonably necessary to licence a vehicle for hackney carriage work. Any person aggrieved by any conditions attached to such a licence may appeal to a Magistrates’ Court within 21 days from the date on which the requirement was imposed.
6.0 EQUALITIES IMPLICATIONS
6.1 No equalities implications have been identified.
7.0 CLIMATE CHANGE IMPLICATIONS
7.1 No climate change implications have been identified.
8.0 POLICY IMPLICATIONS
8.1 In carrying out its licensing functions, the General Licensing and Registration Sub-Committee should have regard to the Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy.
8.2 Paragraph 8 of the Policy sets out the licensing authority’s objectives which are:
· to encourage the provision of high quality and accessible hackney carriage and private hire services;
· to ensure the safety and comfort of users of hackney carriage and private hire services;
· to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the public affected by the operation of hackney carriage and private hire services; and
· to facilitate access to an efficient and effective public transport service.
8.3 The Council’s policy can (and is generally likely to) affect the outcome of the decision in most cases and this is entirely lawful. The policy is a means of securing a consistent approach to individual cases.
8.4 Each case must be considered in the light of the policy but not so that the policy automatically determines the outcome.
8.5 According to paragraph 15 of the Council’s policy, in most cases, when considering licence applications, the Licensing Authority will consider each application on its individual merits. It may, at times, allow exceptions to the general policy.
8.6 According to paragraph 16 of the Council’s policy, it will be necessary to consider, in relation to any particular application, whether the specific circumstances justify allowing an exception.
8.7 According to paragraph 17 of the Council’s policy, it will be up to the applicant to show that an exception should be made to the policy, and if the objectives can still be met, the licensing authority may exercise its discretion to depart from the general policy. Where exceptions are made, reasons will be given. Where exceptions are made in this regard, vehicles shall be subject to three mechanical inspections each year.
8.8 Paragraph 47 of the Council’s policy outlines the hackney carriage vehicle specification which requires vehicles to be less than 10 years old (the age of the vehicle shall be taken from the date of first registration shown on the vehicle registration document, V5C). It goes on to state that the policy with regards to vehicle specification shall be applied in the majority of cases when considering licensing applications, but the licensing authority will consider each application on its individual merits and may, at times, allow exceptions to this policy. Where exceptions are made in this regard, vehicles shall be subject to three mechanical inspections each year.
9.0 REASONS FOR OPTIONS
9.1 The Council has a duty through the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing regime to protect the public. The Sub-Committee must consider if the specific circumstances of the applicant’s individual case justify making an exception from the general policy and take one of the steps outlined in paragraph 10.0.
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10.0 |
OPTIONS
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10.1
10.2
10.3 |
To grant the application for one year
To grant the application including additional conditions; or
To reject the application.
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APPENDICES:
Appendix A – Licence renewal application.
Appendix B – Council testing history.
Appendix C – MOT history
Appendix D – Vehicle registration document
Appendix E – Request for vehicle extension
BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS:
· North Yorkshire Council’s Hackney Carriage & Private Hire Licensing Policy
· Department for Transport’s Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing best practice guidance for licensing authorities in England (Updated 17 November 2023)
Karl Battersby
Corporate Director – Environment
County Hall
Northallerton
30 January 2026
Report Author – Chris Doyle, Licensing Enforcement Officer (West)
Presenter of Report – Chris Doyle, Licensing Enforcement Officer (West)
Note: Members are invited to contact the author in advance of the meeting with any detailed queries or questions.