The Director of Law and Corporate Services submitted a report for the Licensing Panel to consider a request to license a Mercedes V Class, Registration number MJ20 XNN as a Private Hire Vehicle outside of the current criteria which states that the front windscreen must allow at least 75% of light through, the front side windows must allow at least 70% of light through and the windows rear of the B-pillar must allow a minimum light transmission of 30%.

The proprietor also requested an exemption from the requirement to display Private Hire Vehicle Licence Plates on this vehicle. It was a legal requirement that when a Private Hire Vehicle Licence was granted, the council must issue a plate or disc identifying that vehicle as a Private Hire Vehicle.

The vehicle had been tested at one of the authorised testing stations and a copy of the test certificates was made available in advance of the meeting.

The applicant attended the meeting with the vehicle which the Licensing Panel inspected.

Resolved –

(1) That the application to license the Mercedes V Class, registration number MJ20 XNN as a Private Hire Vehicle, outside of the criteria for licensing Private Hire Vehicles which states that the front windscreen must allow at least 75% of light through, the front side windows must allow at least 70% of light through and the windows rear of the B-pillar must allow a minimum light transmission of 30%, be granted.

(2) That the request from the proprietor to exempt the Mercedes V Class, Registration number MJ20 XNN from the requirement to display Private Hire Vehicle Licence Plates on this vehicle be granted.

(3) That the following conditions be attached to the Private Hire Vehicle Licence with the following conditions:

· All bookings for the vehicle must be made at least 24 hours in advance.

· Payment for all bookings must be requested through an invoicing system.

· The operator must communicate with customers for each booking taken, by text or email, with the following information:

- Private Hire Driver name

- Private Hire Driver photograph

- Private Hire Driver badge number

- Private Hire Vehicle registration number

For the avoidance of doubt, the above conditions also apply in respect of drivers and vehicles undertaking work for bookings subcontracted to other private hire companies.

• The exemption notice provided by the council must be retained in the vehicle at all times

• The badge identifying the Private Hire Driver of the vehicle must be displayed in a prominent position in the vehicle where it can easily be seen by passengers

• The vehicle licence plates must be retained within the vehicle at all times