The Director of Law and Corporate Services submitted a report for the Licensing Panel to consider an application to amend a condition attached to a current Private Hire Vehicle Licence namely a Ford C-Max, registration number LX18 SZV to increase the number of passengers permitted to be carried in the vehicle from four to six.

The Licensing Manager reminded Members of the current criteria that vehicles must comply with before being granted a Private Hire Vehicle Licence includes the following: The vehicle must be fitted (in addition to the front drivers and passengers doors) with at least two side/rear opening doors and all doors must be easily accessible to all passengers and capable of being opened from inside.

The vehicle was issued with a Private Hire Vehicle Licence to carry four passengers on 12 August 2024. The V5 Logbook for the vehicle states that the number of seats within the vehicle is seven. The date of first registration of this vehicle is 30 June 2019.

The vehicle had been examined at one of the Council’s authorised testing stations and the MOT and Compliance pass certificates were provided in advance of the meeting.

The Licensing Manager spoke of the safety implications arising out of this report as the Licensing Panel must be satisfied that the vehicle is safe, suitable and comfortable to be licensed as a Private Hire Vehicle for six passengers.

The proprietor attended the meeting with the vehicle which the Licensing Panel inspected. The proprietor explained to the panel that they only undertook school contract work, and the increase was to accommodate more passengers for this purpose.

Resolved – That:

The application to amend a condition attached to the Ford C-Max, registration number LX18 SZV current Private Hire Vehicle Licence to increase the number of passengers permitted to be carried in the vehicle from four to six, be changed to an increase from four to five, with the following conditions:

·  The middle seat in the back of the vehicle is to be removed in its entirety. Upon completion the vehicle will need to be re-inspected by licensing officers.

·  Once the seat is removed the proprietor must ensure the now empty space where the middle seat once was must not be used by passengers to store their luggage.

·  The proprietors Private Hire Vehicle Licence will be changed to that of one only allowing school contract work.