Issue - meetings

The Committee considered a report regarding proposed hackney carriage vehicle conditions and hackney carriage vehicle test guidelines for each of the three zones.

Different hackney carriage vehicle conditions were in operation in each of the three hackney carriage zones.  On 7 March 2011, the Licensing Committee had resolved that officers be requested to produce a draft set of hackney carriage vehicle conditions to be applicable in each of the three zones and a draft set of vehicle test guidelines which reflected the requirements of the draft conditions.

RESOLVED

(a) That, subject to consultation, the draft hackney carriage vehicle conditions attached as Appendix D to the report be approved to apply in each of the three hackney carriage zones, subject to the inclusion of the following conditions:

• 1.3 All vehicles presented for a new hackney carriage vehicle licence shall be purpose-built wheelchair accessible vehicles.
• 1.4 The vehicle shall be a manufacturer’s right hand drive model with a minimum of four wheels and a minimum of four passenger seats and shall be finished in a production colour of the manufacturer for the model.
• 2.5 The vehicle shall not be fitted with a tow bar.
• 2.7 All glazing shall comply with the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 (as amended).
• 4.2 Vehicles which are over seven years old shall be tested every six months.  The age of the vehicle shall be calculated by reference to the date of first registration recorded in the Vehicle Registration Document (form V5) unless the vehicle was not new at the date of first registration in the UK.

(b) That, subject to consultation, the vehicle test guidelines in relation to hackney carriage vehicles attached as Appendix F to the report be approved, subject to ‘(could be carried in the boot area)’ being deleted from the guidelines in relation to fire extinguishers (point 56).

(c) That officers be authorised to carry out a consultation exercise in relation to the draft conditions and vehicle test guidelines.

(d) That, if no objections are received within the consultation period, or if any objections that are received are withdrawn, the conditions and vehicle test guidelines will come into operation in each of the three zones on the day after the last day of the consultation period; and that it be noted that if objections are received and not withdrawn, these will be reported to a future meeting of the Licensing Committee for consideration.