North Yorkshire Council
General Licensing and Registration Sub-Committee
27 May 2026
HC404B – Application for grant of Hackney carriage Vehicle Licence
Report of the Corporate Director – Environment, Karl Battersby
1.0 PURPOSE OF REPORT
1.1 This report asks the Sub-Committee to consider an application for the grant 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 a diesel engine. Such vehicles may be licensed at the discretion of the General Licensing and Registration Sub Committee.
2.0 BACKGROUND
2.1 This is the application for a grant of a hackney carriage vehicle licence (plate number HC404B) in respect of a Ford Tourneo.
3.0 APPLICATION FOR THE GRANT OF A HACKNEY CARRIAGE LICENCE
3.1 A grant application was lodged on 14 April 2026. A copy of the application is attached at Appendix A
3.2 All applicants are required to produce the following documents before a licence will be granted:
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
3.3 The applicant has produced the requisite documents identified in paragraph 3.2 and these have been deemed satisfactory by the Licensing Team.
3.4 A copy of the vehicle inspection test certificate is attached at Appendix B.
3.5 A copy of the MOT certificate is attached at Appendix C.
3.6 The most recent data shows that, on 10 April 2026, the recorded mileage was 188,152.
3.7 According to the registration document, the vehicle in question was first registered on 21 May 2021 and is Euro 6 Diesel, is attached at Appendix D.
3.8 Details of the vehicle are as follows:
Make: Ford
Model: Tourneo
Colour: Blue
First Registration: 21 May 2021
Mileage: 188,152 (as of 10 April 2026)
Fuel Type: Diesel
Engine Size: 1995CC
3.9 The vehicle will be made available on the day of the Sub-Committee hearing for members to inspect.
3.10 The applicant has provided a letter with his reasons the vehicle should be licensed, and these are attached at Appendix E, along with photos of the vehicle at Appendix F.
4.0 ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED
4.1 All of the Sub-Committee’s options are outlined in paragraph 11.0.
5.0 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
5.1 No financial implications have been identified.
6.0 LEGAL IMPLICATIONS
6.1 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 Crown Court within 21 days of receiving notification of the decision.[1]
6.2 The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 and the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 requires that Hackney Carriage Vehicles are to be licensed.
6.3 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. An appeal in relation to any attached conditions to the grant of a Hackney Carriage Licence, must be made to Magistrates Court within 21 days of receiving notification of the decision
7.0 EQUALITIES IMPLICATIONS
7.1 No equalities implications have been identified.
8.0 CLIMATE CHANGE IMPLICATIONS
8.1 No climate change implications have been identified.
9.0 POLICY IMPLICATIONS
9.1 In carrying out its licensing functions, the Sub-Committee should have regard to the Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy.
9.2 In accordance with paragraph 51 of the Policy, the licensing authority will only generally issue a licence in respect of a hackney carriage vehicle if:
It is fit for its purpose, safe and comfortable for its users and any members of the public.
It is either zero emission at the tailpipe (ZEV);
a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) that meets the Euro 6 Standard for emissions.
or a wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV).
For the purposes of this requirement: - a vehicle will be considered a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) if it is identified as such by the vehicle registration certificate or via a DVLA vehicle enquiry.
a wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) must be capable of carrying at least one passenger seated in a reference size wheelchair.
9.3 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.
9.4 Each case must be considered in the light of the policy but not so that the policy automatically determines the outcome.
9.5 Paragraph 15-17 of the policy allows for exceptions to be made by placing a requirement on the licensing authority to consider each application on its individual merits and to depart from the general policy where the specific circumstances of a case justify making an exception. The onus is on the applicant to demonstrate that any such exception should be made. Where exceptions are made in this regard, vehicles shall be subject to three mechanical inspections each year.
10.0 REASONS FOR OPTIONS
10.1 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 11.0.
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11.0 |
OPTION (S)
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11.1
11.2
11.3 |
Grant the application, for a period of one year;
Grant the application for a period of one year with additional conditions; or
Refuse to grant the licence on the grounds of any reasonable cause.
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APPENDICES:
Appendix A – Application
Appendix B – Vehicle inspection
Appendix C – MOT
Appendix D – V5 Registration document
Appendix E – Letter from applicant
Appendix F – Photos of Vehicle
BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS:
Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy
Karl Battersby
Corporate Director – Environment
County Hall
Northallerton
15 April 2026
Report Author – Sue Iceton, Licensing Enforcement Officer
Presenter of Report – Sue Iceton, Licensing Enforcement Officer
Note: Members are invited to contact the author in advance of the meeting with any detailed queries or questions.