To consider the report of the Service Lead - Environmental Health & Community Safety.
Minutes:
The Chair introduced the Sub-Committee and the Legal Advisor set out the procedure for the hearing advising of the Council’s policy and the requirements under Section 48(1) of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.
The Principal Licensing Officer presented an application to grant a Private Hire Vehicle licence in relation to a vehicle which was over 4 years old at initial licensing. The vehicle was a four passenger Honda Accord, without wheel chair access, which had been first registered on 24 September 2012.
A vehicle MOT certificate had been submitted, dated 22 September 2020, with a recorded mileage of 101,895 miles. An independent mechanical inspection report had also been submitted, which was dated 22 September 2020 and the vehicle has been inspected by a Licensing Officer on 24 September 2020, which had been considered to be in a good condition.
The Principal Licensing Officer explained the Taxi Policy, which stated that vehicles presented for a grant for a first private hire vehicle licence, which were more than four year’s old, should not be granted. The applicant would be given the right to apply for the application to be considered by a licensing sub-committee if they considered that their circumstances justified a deviation from the policy.
The Applicant was in attendance and spoke in support of the application. He explained that the vehicle was in good condition and well looked after. The vehicle was fully serviced every 10,000 miles and held a full service history. The current Covid19 Pandemic and lockdown, impacted on the affordability of a new vehicle. His priority was to continue working to support his family.
In response to questions from the Members, the Legal Advisor and the Principal
Licensing Officer, the Applicant explained:
· that the vehicle had been purchased in October 2020 to be used as a taxi;
· he was aware that the Licensing Policy recommended refusal for vehicles over four years old, but his financial situation prevented him from purchasing a newer car. He was only able to afford this vehicle, to replace his previous vehicle which had also been used for taxi work;
· the vehicle had been purchased from a friend who had used it for travelling to work and family matters;
· he would be undertaking local journeys, mainly for school runs and picking up customers in and around the city; and
· that there were no issues with the vehicle, which was well looked after, and was regularly cleaned and sanitized.
In response to questions from the Legal Advisor, the Principal Licensing Officer, explained:
· should the application be granted for 12 months, it would commence from October 2020, where it was initially given a temporary plate; and
· from October 2021, the vehicle would over nine years old and the Applicant would need to present the vehicle to the Licensing Sub Committee again and submit a new mechanical inspection report.
RESOLVED in this instance the Licensing Sub-Committee exercised its discretion to depart from its Taxi Policy and grant the Application up to and including the 23rd September 2021 on the basis that there were exceptional circumstances as a result of the Coronavirus Pandemic and the vehicle was mechanically sound as evidenced by the independent mechanical inspection and the Licensing Authorities inspection confirmed the vehicle was in good condition.