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.

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.

The Director of Law and Corporate Services reported upon an application to license a Ford Tourneo, registration number BC18 UWL, outside of the current criteria for licensing Private Hire Vehicles, which stated 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 had also requested an exemption from the requirement to display Private Hire Vehicle Licence Plates on this vehicle.

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

Resolved - That the application to license a Ford Tourneo, Registration BC18 UWL be adjourned, and the proprietor return to the panel at a future date of their choosing.

The Director of Law and Corporate Services reported upon an application to license a Mercedes-Benz V300, registration number YK70 FEY, 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%. The proprietor had also requested an exemption from the requirement to display Private Hire Vehicle Licence Plates on this vehicle.

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

Resolved - That the application to license a Mecedes-Benz V300, registration number YK70 FEY, be granted. The Panel also resolved to grant the exemption from the requirement to display PHVL plates on the vehicle, subject to 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

The vehicle may only be booked through a Private Hire Operator that is restricted to executive travel 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

The Director of Law and Corporate Services reported upon an application to license a Volkswagen ID5 electric vehicle, registration RA72 EHO 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%.

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

Members considered carefully the responses given by the applicant. They noted that during their inspection of the vehicle, they considered that the visibility into the rear of the vehicle was acceptable.

Resolved - That the application to licence the Volkswagen ID5, registration number RA72 EHO be granted.

The Director of Law and Corporate Services reported upon an application to amend a condition attached to a current Private Hire Vehicle Licence namely a Kia Sorento, registration number BC70 VTP, to increase the number of passengers permitted to be carried in the vehicle from four to six.

The current criteria that vehicles must comply with before being granted a Private Hire Vehicle Licence included 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 applicant attended the meeting with the vehicle which the Panel inspected.

Resolved - That the application to amend a condition attached to the Kia Sorento, registration number BC70 VTP, to increase the number of passengers permitted to be carried in the vehicle from four to six be refused.

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.

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 items of business on the grounds that they involve 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.

The Director of Law and Corporate Services submitted a report for Members to consider whether to allow BY to re-sit the Knowledge Test outside of the Council’s Statement of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy which states that an individual who fails to pass the test on the second attempt will be prohibited from taking the test for a period of six months.

BY attended the meeting and made representations in respect of the application. BY 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

1.  BY be permitted to re-sit the Knowledge Test outside of the Council’s Statement of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy which states that an individual who fails to pass the test on the second attempt will be prohibited from taking the test for a period of six months.

2.  BY must re-sit the sections of the Knowledge Test that he failed when they took the test on 11 September 2024.

3.  That BY may re-sit the Knowledge Test at his convenience and that should he fail again, he must wait six months as stated in the Council’s Statement of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy.

The Director of Law and Corporate Services submitted a report for Members to consider whether RB should continue to hold a Private Hire Driver Licence.

RB attended the meeting and made representations in respect of the review. RB 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 RB be allowed to continue to hold a Private Hire Driver Licence, subject to the completion of a Driver Awareness Course.

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

JB attended the meeting with his legal advisor and made representations in respect of the application. RB 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 JB’s application for a Private Hire Driver Licence be refused.