Agenda and minutes

At this point, Members are asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have in the business on this agenda.

At this point, Members are asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have in the business on this agenda. No Members declared any interests.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 1 September 2006.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 1 September 2006 be approved and signed as a correct record.

At this point in the meeting, Members of the public who have registered their wish to speak regarding an item on the agenda or an issue within the Committee’s remit can do so.  The deadline for registering is 10.00 am on 2 November 2006.

It was reported that there were no registrations to speak under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

This report requests members to consider two aspects of vehicle licence conditions which, due to advances in motor vehicle technology, are causing licensing difficulties. These are minimum engine size and the fitting of tinted windows. Members are requested to consider if a revision of conditions is necessary and make, if necessary, recommendation to full council to effect such revisions.

Members were asked to consider a report concerning two aspects of vehicle licence conditions, which due to advances in motor vehicle technology, are causing licensing difficulties. These were minimum engine size and the fitting of tinted windows. Members were requested to consider if a revision of conditions was necessary and make, if necessary, recommendation to Full Council to effect such revisions.

Members discussed the issues surrounding environmentally unfriendly vehicles being used as  hackney carriages and private hire vehicles and said that the suggested revision to minimum engine size  was very sensible.

Members discussed how the proposed revisions could affect private hire limousines with totally blacked out windows. Officers advised that the council would be considering the licensing of limousines in the future but were waiting for details of a scheme to be introduced by the greater Manchester Authorities who have done considerable research on this issue

RESOLVED: that the licence conditions in respect of Hackney Carriages and Private Hire vehicles be amended to include the following:-

a)     The licensed vehicle shall have a minimum engine capacity of 1250cc except for vehicles fitted with an engine rated with a Euro IV (or better) emission standard

b)     The licensed vehicle shall be fitted with windscreen glass that has a light transmittance of 75% and all other window glass in the vehicle shall have a light transmittance not less than 70%. Any self applied material shall be of the same standard and shall be approved by the taxi licensing office, and

That condition b) will not apply to tinted glazing fitted by the manufacturer to vehicles when new in respect of vehicles currently licensed to the council.

REASON: to update standard vehicle licensing conditions to match current developments in vehicle specifications.