Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 1 - Wallasey Town Hall. View directions

Contact: Mike Jones, Principal Democratic Services Officer  Email: michaeljones1@wirral.gov.uk; Tel. 0151 691 8363

Items
No. Item

48.

MEMBERS' CODE OF CONDUCT - DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members of the Panel are asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non pecuniary interests in connection with any application on the agenda and state the nature of the interest.

Minutes:

Members of the Panel were asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in connection with any application on the agenda and state the nature of the interest.

 

No such declarations were made.

49.

PRIVATE HIRE VEHICLE LICENCE - Mercedes-Benz V300 - Registration YK70 FEY pdf icon PDF 123 KB

Minutes:

The Director of Law and Corporate Services reported upon an application received to amend the conditions attached to a current Private Hire Vehicle Licence namely a Mercedes-Benz V300, registration number YK70 FEY to allow the vehicle to operate without door signs and to consider amendments to the standard Private Hire Operator Licence to be granted to the applicant so that the conditions would be relevant and appropriate for the operation of executive travel vehicles.

 

The proprietor of the vehicle attended the meeting with the vehicle which was inspected by Members.

 

The proprietor of the vehicle had provided a business plan to Members of the Panel which was outlined at the meeting confirming that he wished to provide an executive travel service.

 

Resolved –

 

(1)  That the conditions attached to the current Private Hire Vehicle Licence namely a Mercedes-Benz V300, registration YK70 FEY be amended to allow the vehicle to operate without door signs.

 

(2)  That officers be given delegated authority to amend the conditions to be attached to the standard Private Hire Operator Licence to be granted to the applicant so that the conditions are relevant and appropriate for the operation of executive travel vehicles.

50.

PRIVATE HIRE VEHICLE LICENCE APPLICATION - Ford Tourneo - Registration Number BC18 UWL pdf icon PDF 122 KB

Minutes:

The Director of Law and Corporate Services reported upon an application received to license a Ford Tourneo, registration number BC18 UWL, as a Private Hire Vehicle outside 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 report also included a request by the proprietor of the vehicle to be granted an exemption from the legal requirement to display Private Hire Vehicle Licence Plates on this vehicle.

 

The current criteria that vehicles must comply with before being granted a Private Hire Vehicle Licence 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%.  It is also a legal requirement that when a Private Hire Vehicle Licence is granted the Council must issue a plate or a disc identifying that vehicle as a Private Hire Vehicle.

 

It was reported that should the application be granted it would be necessary for the vehicle to be examined at one of the Council’s authorised testing stations in order for it to receive a valid MOT and Compliance certificate.

 

The proprietor of the vehicle attended the meeting with the vehicle which was inspected by Members.  It was reported that the proprietor of the vehicle had previously attended the Licensing Panel regarding this application however this meeting had been adjourned to allow the applicant to provide further information to the Licensing Panel.

 

The proprietor of the vehicle had provided further details in support of his application to Members of the Licensing Panel in advance of the meeting and outlined the business model to Members of the Panel in that they wished to provide an executive travel service and wanted to be able to offer a discreet service to their customers.  During the meeting the applicant also requested that the vehicle be exempt from displaying door signs which provide details of the Private Hire Operator.

 

Resolved –

 

(1)  That the application to license a Ford Tourneo, registration number BC18 UWL as a Private Hire Vehicle, outside 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% be granted with the following conditions:

 

·  All bookings 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  ...  view the full minutes text for item 50.

51.

PRIVATE HIRE VEHICLE LICENCE APPLICATION - Mercedes-Benz S-Class - Registration Number H6 MWV pdf icon PDF 126 KB

Minutes:

The Director of Law and Corporate Services reported upon an application received to license a Mercedes-Benz S-Class, registration number H6 MWV, as a Private Hire Vehicle outside 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 report also included a request by the proprietor of the vehicle to be granted an exemption from the legal requirement to display Private Hire Vehicle Licence Plates and the conditions relating to displaying door signs on this vehicle.

 

The current criteria that vehicles must comply with before being granted a Private Hire Vehicle Licence 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%.  It is also a legal requirement that when a Private Hire Vehicle Licence is granted the Council must issue a plate or a disc identifying that vehicle as a Private Hire Vehicle.

 

The proprietor of the vehicle attended the meeting with the vehicle which was inspected by Members.  The proprietor of the vehicle had submitted a letter in support of their application to Members of the Licensing Panel in advance of the meeting which outlined their business model to Members of the Panel in that they wished to provide an executive travel service and wanted to be able to offer a discreet service to their customers. 

 

Resolved –

 

(1)  That the application to license a Mercedes-Benz S-Class, registration number H6 MWV as a Private Hire Vehicle, outside 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% be granted with the following conditions:

 

·  All bookings 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.

 

(2)  That the application to exempt the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, registration number H6 MWV from displaying Private Hire Vehicle Licence Plates and from displaying door signs which provide details of the Private Hire Operator be granted.

52.

PRIVATE HIRE VEHICLE LICENCE APPLICATION - Mercedes-Benz V-Class - Registration Number KP24 PWV pdf icon PDF 125 KB

Minutes:

The Director of Law and Corporate Services reported upon an application received to license a Mercedes-Benz V-Class, registration number KP24 PWV, as a Private Hire Vehicle outside 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 report also included a request by the proprietor of the vehicle to be granted an exemption from the legal requirement to display Private Hire Vehicle Licence Plates and the conditions relating to displaying door signs on this vehicle.

 

The current criteria that vehicles must comply with before being granted a Private Hire Vehicle Licence 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%.  It is also a legal requirement that when a Private Hire Vehicle Licence is granted the Council must issue a plate or a disc identifying that vehicle as a Private Hire Vehicle.

 

It was reported that should the application be granted it would be necessary for the vehicle to be examined at one of the Council’s authorised testing stations in order for it to receive a valid MOT and Compliance certificate.

 

The proprietor of the vehicle attended the meeting with the vehicle which was inspected by Members.  The proprietor of the vehicle explained that they currently provided an executive travel service and that the application had been made as they had a new vehicle to be licensed. 

 

Resolved –

 

(1)  That the application to license a Mercedes-Benz V-Class, registration number KP24 PWV as a Private Hire Vehicle, outside 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% be granted with the following conditions:

 

·  All bookings 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.

 

(2)  That the application to exempt the Mercedes-Benz V-Class, registration number KP24 PWV from displaying Private Hire Vehicle Licence Plates and from displaying door signs which provide details of the Private Hire Operator be granted.

 

(3)  That officers be given delegated authority to grant a Private Hire Vehicle Licence should the applicant wish to change their vehicle in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 52.

53.

EXEMPT INFORMATION - EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC

The following items contain exempt information.

 

RECOMMENDATION:  That, under section 100 (A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined by the relevant paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A (as amended) to that Act.  The Public Interest test has been applied and favours exclusion.

Minutes:

Resolved - That, under section 100 (A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined by paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 12A (as amended) to that Act.  The Public Interest Test had been applied and favoured exclusion.

54.

PRIVATE HIRE DRIVER LICENCE APPLICATION - DQ

Minutes:

The Director of Law and Corporate Services submitted a report for Members to consider whether DQ should be granted a Private Hire Driver Licence.

 

DQ attended the meeting and made representations in respect of the application.  DQ responded to questions from Members of the Panel and the legal advisor to the Panel.

 

Members gave due consideration to the representations made and exercised their rights to consider each case on its individual merits in light of the representations made.

 

Resolved - That DQ’s application for a Private Hire Driver Licence be granted.

55.

PRIVATE HIRE DRIVER LICENCE APPLICATION - SH

Minutes:

The Director of Law and Corporate Services submitted a report for Members to consider whether SH should be granted a Private Hire Driver Licence.

 

SH attended the meeting and made representations in respect of the application.  SH responded to questions from Members of the Panel and the legal advisor to the Panel.

 

Members gave due consideration to the representations made and exercised their rights to consider each case on its individual merits in light of the representations made.

 

Resolved - That SH’s application for a Private Hire Driver Licence be granted.