Agenda and minutes

Taxi Licensing Committee - Thursday 16 April 2015 10.00 am

Venue: Council House, Plymouth (Next to the Civic Centre)

Contact: Lynn Young  Email: lynn.young@plymouth.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

125.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members will be asked to make any declarations of interest in respect of items on this agenda.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest in respect of items on this agenda.

126.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 68 KB

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 19 February 2015.

Minutes:

Agreed that the minutes of the meeting held on 19 February 2015 are confirmed as a correct record.

127.

CHAIR'S URGENT BUSINESS

To receive reports on business which, in the opinion of the Chair, should be brought forward for urgent consideration.

Minutes:

Councillor Rennie circulated a set of minutes from a meeting of the Public Protection Service and Taxi Licensing Trade held on 9 January 2015, and expressed concern that these minutes were not available to members of the Taxi Licensing committee.

 

Following a discussion, the committee was advised by Messrs Forshaw and Hughes that these meetings were attended by representatives of the city’s taxi trade.  It was acknowledged that not all aspects of the trade were represented despite the officer’s best efforts.  Mr Forshaw advised the committee that he would endeavour to ensure that future meetings were attended by more representatives of the trade.

 

The committee agreed that the minutes of the Public Protection Service and Taxi Licensing Trade meetings should be presented at meetings on a regular basis.

128.

APPEAL CASES

The Committee will be provided with the results of the judgement on appeal cases that went to Court.

Minutes:

The committee was advised that there had been no appeal cases since the last meeting.

129.

CONSIDERATION IN PRINCIPLE TO DEPART FROM THE COUNCIL'S CURRENT LICENSING POLICY IN RESPECT TO THE MAXIMUM HACKNEY CARRIAGE VEHICLE LENGTH OF 5000 MM - C R WILDMAN pdf icon PDF 64 KB

The Director of Public Health will submit a report for consideration in principle to depart from the Council’s current licensing policy in respect to the maximum hackney carriage vehicle length of 5000mm.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The committee –

 

(a)

considered the report from the Director of Public Health;

 

(b)

heard from Mr Wildman;

 

(c)

took the above report and all that was said by Mr Wildman into consideration;

 

(d)

had sight of various documents provided by Mr Wildman;

 

(e)

took the following into account –

 

·         Current licensing position

 

Appendix P of Plymouth City Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy is titled “Specifications for Hackney Carriages”.  It states that prospective Hackney Carriage Vehicles must meet the requirements laid out in the Council’s Vehicle Testing Addendum.  This document states at Item 19 that the length of the Hackney Carriage vehicle should not exceed 5000mm (5m) in length.  The rationale behind this specification is that taxi ranks have been constructed allowing 5m per vehicle rank space thereby accommodating the maximum amount of taxis per ranks in recognition of the demand for such spaces;    

 

·         Mr Wildman’s position

 

Mr Wildman’s current vehicle licence is due to expire on the 13 December 2015.  His vehicle requires replacement to comply with the Council’s vehicle emissions policy.  In addition, he maintains that his height requires particular dimensions within the driver compartment which cannot be accommodated by vehicles which fall within the Council’s existing vehicle specifications.  He therefore states that he will need to source an LWB Ford Tourneo Custom Titanium L2 model as his replacement vehicle and have this vehicle converted for his specific needs in order to incorporate his height specifications and improve the vehicle for wheelchair users.  The length of this vehicle is 5339mm;  

 

·         Considerations

 

The Council is due to carry out a public consultation on the revision of its licensing policy.  The maximum vehicle length of Hackney Carriages is an item which is due to be considered.  There are currently ten Long Wheel Based vehicles already operating as licensed Hackney Carriages in Plymouth which have been incorrectly passed through compliance by testing stations who have now been warned to adhere to the testing addendum.  One of Plymouth City Council’s licensing objectives is to promote the safety and health of drivers and the public.  

 

The committee took all of the above into consideration and have considered Mr Wildman’s application on its own merits.  They gave great weight to his argument that the new dimensions of the proposed vehicle would be of considerable benefit to his disabled customers and would provide them with a more comfortable and dignified journey.  They have therefore elected to confirm in principle the departure from the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy and to delegate authority to officers the ability to grant a licence to a vehicle of the length, make and modifications detailed in the report provided the vehicle also complies with all other vehicle specification and testing addendum qualifying criteria when formal application is made.

 

(David Hughes left the meeting after this agenda item)

130.

EXEMPT INFORMATION

To consider passing a resolution under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the press and public from the meeting for the following item(s) of business on the grounds that it (they) involve(s) the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph(s)1, 2 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended by the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Minutes:

Agreed that under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, to exclude the press and public from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Part 1 Schedule 12a of the Act, as amended by the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

131.

CONFIDENTIAL MINUTES

To confirm the confidential minutes of the meeting held on 19 February 2015.

Minutes:

Agreed that the confidential minutes of the meeting held on 19 February 2015 are confirmed as a correct record.

132.

REVIEW OF A PRIVATE HIRE DRIVER'S LICENCE - VJF (E1, 2 AND 3)

The Director of Public Health will submit a report on a private hire driver’s review of licence status.

Minutes:

The committee –

 

(a)

considered the report from the Director of Public Health;

 

(b)

heard from VJF;

 

(c)

had sight of references which VJF provided in support of her case;

 

(d)

took the above report and all that was said by VJF into consideration.

 

The committee agreed that having taken the above into account to issue VJF with a warning which will remain on her file and will be brought to members’ attention if she appears before this committee again.

 

(Please note:  there is a confidential part to this minute)

133.

REVIEW OF A HACKNEY CARRIAGE DRIVER'S LICENCE - MH (E1, 2 AND 3)

The Director of Public Health will submit a report on a hackney carriage driver’s review of licence status.

Minutes:

The committee –

 

(a)

considered the report from the Director of Public Health;

 

(b)

had sight of video footage of the incident in question;

 

(c)

heard from MH;

 

(d)

took the above report and all that was said by MH into consideration.

 

The committee agreed that having taken the above into account to suspend MH’s Hackney Carriage licence for a period of 2 days under Section 19(1)(b) of the Plymouth City Council Act 1975.  A warning has also been issued which will remain on his file indefinitely and will be brought to the committee’s attention if he appears before them again. 

 

Note – Councillor Rennie voted against this decision

 

(Please note:  there is a confidential part to this minute)