Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Planning and Development attached.

The committee considered a report of the Director of Planning and Development that requested members to consider, approve and adopt the Criteria for the Allocation of a New Hackney Carriage Vehicle licence as Council Policy.

The Enforcement Team Leader (Licensing) advised the criteria would give all parties a fair and open way of being considered. The tombola procedure had been used in previous years and was felt to be an appropriate way to administer the process. The committee could decide not to adopt the criteria, but this would slow the administrative process as the committee would need to decide each time how to give the licence.

The Enforcement Team Leader (Licensing) explained that the authority limits the number of hackney licences to 36 and following an expiry of a licence there was only 35 licensed hackney carriages. If the criteria were approved, any new Hackney Carriage would need to be a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) which would increase the authorities supply of WAV’s.

Members commented that the procedure for selecting a new licence holder had been used previously and worked well. It was an open and transparent procedure with the draw filmed.

Members considered and debated the report, touching on issues relating to Climate Change and Air Quality. Some members on the committee were of the view that the criteria should be amended to require the vehicle to be carbon neutral. When discussing this topic, members noted the significant cost outlay of carbon neutral vehicles and that consultation with the trade would also need to be undertaken.

Members asked if the authority retained any control over the licence and referred to the fact that hackney licences could be sold on for up to £35,000. In response, the Enforcement Team Leader (Licensing) explained that the legislation only requires the authority to grant the licence, once it had been granted it was open for the driver to transfer. Drivers were required to notify the Council of the transfer, but they did not need to do anything further. The Enforcement Team Leader (Licensing) explained that officers would expect a person applying to submit an expression of interest to use that vehicle for a minimum of twelve months. If the licence was transferred within that period, then enforcement action could follow.

An amendment was proposed by Councillor Mark Clifford and seconded by Councillor Dedrah Moss to stipulate within the criteria that the vehicle should be Wheelchair Accessible and a net zero emission vehicle. Upon taking the vote, the amendment failed (4:6:0)

It was subsequently proposed by Councillor Aaron Beaver and seconded by Councillor Roy Lees that the recommendations be accepted as outlined within the report. It was therefore,

Resolved: (6:4:0)

1.    That the committee approve the Criteria for the Allocation of a New Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licence.

2.    The authority is delegated to the Director of Planning and Development to carry out the administrative process of inviting applications of interest to be made and for applications to be brought before the next Licensing and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12