Agenda and minutes

To elect a Member to act as Chair of the meeting.

Decision

That Councillor Andrew Lee be elected as Chair for the duration of the meeting.

(Councillor Lee in the Chair)

There were no apologies for absence.

All Members are invited to declare at this point any interests they have in items appearing on this agenda, including the nature of those interests.

For the purpose of transparency Councillor Joy Andrews and Councillor Tim Grogan declared that they knew the licence holder of item 6 from a previous hearing.

To confirm the procedure to be followed at the meeting.

Decision

The Sub Committee agreed the procedure for the meeting as outlined by the Chair.

The Corporate Director – Environment asked the Sub-Committee to consider whether to grant an application for a private hire vehicle licence that did not comply with the standard criteria as stated in the Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy.

The Sub-Committee considered the following:

·       The meeting papers, including a report from the Licensing Enforcement Officer

·       Oral evidence from the Licensing Enforcement Officer

·       Oral evidence from the applicant

·       A physical inspection of vehicle 002E by the Sub-Committee

In reaching their decision the Sub-Committee gave the following factors significant weight:

·       The age of the vehicle

·       The vehicle’s mileage

·       The detail and chronology of the vehicle’s mechanical inspections

·       The applicant’s evidence regards his ownership of and his mechanical maintenance of the vehicle, his professionalism and his conscientiousness

·       The immaculate presentation of the vehicle

·       The licensing authority’s duties to encourage the provision of high quality and accessible private hire services

·       The licensing authority’s duties to ensure the safety of vehicle users and the general public by the operation of private hire services

Decision

To GRANT the application to licence private hire vehicle number 002E for a period of twelve months with one additional condition that the vehicle be subject to a mechanical inspection three times per year.

The Corporate Director – Environment asked the Sub-Committee to consider whether to grant an application for a hackney carriage vehicle licence that did not comply with the standard criteria as stated in the Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy.

The Sub-Committee considered the following:

·       The meeting papers, including a report from the Licensing Enforcement Officer

·       Oral evidence from the Licensing Enforcement Officer

·       Oral evidence from the applicant and his representative

·       A physical inspection of vehicle 003E by the Sub-Committee

In reaching their decision the Sub-Committee gave the following factors significant weight:

·       The age of the vehicle

·       The vehicle’s mileage

·       The detail and chronology of the vehicle’s mechanical inspections

·       The applicant’s evidence regards his ownership of and his mechanical maintenance of the vehicle

·       The immaculate cleanliness and presentation of the vehicle

·       The licensing authority’s duties to encourage the provision of high quality and accessible hackney carriage services

·       The licensing authority’s duties to ensure the safety of vehicle users and the general public by the operation of hackney carriage services

Decision

To GRANT the application to licence hackney carriage vehicle number 003E for a period of twelve months with one additional condition that the vehicle be subject to a mechanical inspection three times per year.

The Corporate Director – Environment asked the Sub-Committee to consider whether to grant an application for a hackney carriage vehicle licence that did not comply with the standard criteria as stated in the Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy.

The Sub-Committee considered the following:

·       The meeting papers, including a report from the Senior Licensing Enforcement Officer

·       Oral evidence from the Senior Licensing Enforcement Officer

·       Oral evidence from the applicant

·       A physical inspection of vehicle 080E by the Sub-Committee

In reaching their decision the Sub-Committee gave the following factors significant weight:

·       The age of the vehicle

·       The detail and chronology of the vehicle’s mechanical inspections

·       The applicant’s evidence regards his ownership of and his mechanical maintenance of the vehicle

·       The licensing authority’s duties to encourage the provision of high quality and accessible hackney carriage services

·       The licensing authority’s duties to ensure the safety of vehicle users and the general public by the operation of hackney carriage services

·       No complaints recorded against the applicant.

The Sub-Committee gave the following factors some weight:

·       The vehicle’s mileage

·       The vehicle’s fuel type

·       The applicant’s evidence that another vehicle had recently caused damage to the vehicle and his assurances that repair works were scheduled to take place within the next two weeks

·       The presentation of the vehicle

Decision

To GRANT the application to licence hackney carriage vehicle number 080E for a period of twelve months with one additional condition that the vehicle be subject to a mechanical inspection three times per year.

The Sub-Committee issued a warning to the applicant to remain on file for twelve months that he ensures that he takes pre-emptive measures in relation to the maintenance of the vehicle rather than awaiting the results of mandatory testing.