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 3^rd November 2006.

RESOLVED:That the minutes of the meeting held on 3^rd November 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 5pm on Thursday 1st March 2007.

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

The conditions of application for a private hire vehicle licence are designed for the licensing of ordinary four wheel, four door motor cars.  This report seeks Members’ approval to licence a three wheel tricycle with two passenger seats as a private hire vehicle subject to appropriate conditions.

Members considered a report concerning an Application for a Private Hire Vehicle for a Family Three Wheel Motorcycle.

The Officer said that the Application was for a Rewaco HS5i Family Three Wheel Tricycle. He had researched the use of this vehicle in this capacity and noted that two Local Authority areas in the Lake District and the Local Authorities in Brighton and Blackpool had all granted licences to vehicles of this type. The Officer handed out a flyer to illustrate one of these. He also confirmed that the vehicle complied with European Regulations.

The Applicant explained that his intention was to mainly provide tours for tourists such as runs out to local attractions i.e. Castle Howard or the White Horse at Kilburn. He stated that he would not want to work when it was cold, wet or dark. He said that he was planning to ‘leaflet’ York hotels and was looking mainly to work outside of the City Walls. He was exploring the possibility of purchasing helmets with integrated intercoms to allow him to communicate with passengers.

Members asked about the emissions of the vehicle and the Officer clarified that these were very up to date and complied with European Standards.

Members asked how the Applicant would cope with drunken persons requesting to hire the vehicle and the Applicant said that he would not take them as passengers. He reiterated that he was planning to work during the day rather than the evening.

RESOLVED: That the licence be granted with the following conditions:

1. The licence is granted for one vehicle only.
2. Not to use the licensed vehicle in City Centre pedestrian areas and access only streets, areas to be identified on a map to be provided by City of York Council’s Taxi Licensing Department.
3. All passenger seats to be fitted with seat belts before the vehicle is brought into operation.
4. No more than two passengers to be carried on the rear seats at any one time.
5. Helmets to be made available to all passengers free of charge, but children under 16 must wear one.
6. A luggage compartment is to be provided at the rear of the vehicle.
7. The licence plates must be fixed to the front and rear of the vehicle.
8. Children under 16 are not permitted to travel on the vehicle unless accompanied by an adult.

REASON: So as not to enhance congestion in the City Centre.