The General Licensing and Registration Sub-Committee met to review applications for the renewal of private hire and hackney carriage vehicle licences. Councillors granted the renewal of a private hire vehicle licence and two hackney carriage vehicle licences, all with the additional condition of three mechanical inspections per year. A warning was issued to one applicant regarding proactive vehicle maintenance.

Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Licences

The sub-committee reviewed three applications for vehicle licences, all of which did not comply with the standard criteria set out in the council's Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy. The sub-committee considered reports from the Licensing Enforcement Officer and oral evidence from the officers and the applicants, as well as carrying out physical inspections of each vehicle.

PHV 002E

The sub-committee agreed to grant the application for private hire vehicle licence PHV 002E for a period of twelve months, with an additional condition requiring three mechanical inspections per year.

The factors that the sub-committee gave significant weight to were:

• 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

HCV 003E

The sub-committee agreed to grant the application for hackney carriage vehicle licence HCV 003E for a period of twelve months, with an additional condition requiring three mechanical inspections per year.

The factors that the sub-committee gave significant weight to were:

• 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

HCV 080E

The sub-committee agreed to grant the application for hackney carriage vehicle licence HCV 080E for a period of twelve months, with an additional condition requiring three mechanical inspections per year.

The factors that the sub-committee gave significant weight to were:

• 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 some weight to:

• 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

The sub-committee also 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.

Other Business

Councillor Andrew Lee was elected as Chair for the duration of the meeting. Councillors Joy Andrews and Councillor Tim Grogan declared that they knew the licence holder of item 6 from a previous hearing. The sub-committee agreed to follow the procedure for the meeting as outlined by the Chair.