Agenda item

This report asks Members to consider revising existing conditions with regards to seating capacity, for both hackney carriage and private hire vehicle licences.

Consideration was given to a report which asked Members to revise existing Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle licence conditions relating to seating capacity.

The Licensing Manager outlined the report and advised that the Taxi Licensing Section had seen an increase in the number of licensed vehicle proprietors coming forward to change their vehicle to one that seats 5 or more passengers. There had been some issues in relation to vehicles complying with the conditions relating to seating capacity and internal space.

Members agreed with the registered speaker that new suggested condition cii should be disregarded due to many popular vehicle models that are used as taxis not being able to comply with the 960mm or more distance.

The new conditions would therefore be as follows:

3)      The seating capacity of a licensed vehicle shall be determined as follows:-

        a)    where separate seats for each person are provided, one person shall be counted for each separate seat provided

        b)    where the vehicle is fitted with continuous seats, one person shall be counted for each completed length of 400mm measured in a straight line lengthwise over the centre of the seat.  The centre of the seat shall be determined as half the distance from the forwardmost point of the front edge of the seat to the rear edge of the seat.  Where the seat is fitted with arms for the purpose of separating the seating spaces and such arms are so constructed that they can be folded back or otherwise put out of use, such seat shall be measured as if it were not fitted with such arms

        c)     All licensed vehicles shall comply with the following minimum standard of internal space:-

               i)      the distance from the rear seat-back to the rearmost part of the seat in front of that seat or other partition shall not be less than 610mm when the seat in front is in its rearmost position without modification

       d)     In addition, licensed vehicles with a third row of seats must also comply with the following minimum standard of internal space:-

i)         the distance from the seat-back of the third row of seats to the rearmost part of the seat in front shall be not less than 610mm when the seat in front is in its rearmost position without modification

ii)        where there is no door adjacent to a row of seats, no passenger must have to pass through a gap of less than 280mm at the narrowest point in order to exit the vehicle via the rear side door

iii)      the middle row of seats must have at least one seat capable of adequately tilting to provide a safe exit route for passengers and meet the necessary exit dimension of 280mm, at the narrowest point, at the exit door

       e)     All licensed vehicles with a row of passenger seats without adjacent side doors must provide the following:-

i)         means of operating signs which must provide clear instructions to operate the tilting mechanism with letters of no less than 25mm in height

ii)        adequate lighting that illuminates the sign, catches and levers to operate the tilting mechanism

iii)      the sign, catches and levers must be clearly visible

The seating capacity of a licensed vehicle shall be determined as follows:

a)       where separate seats for each person are provided, one person shall be counted for each separate seat provided.

        b)    where the vehicle is fitted with continuous seats, one person shall be counted for each completed length of 400mm measured in a straight line lengthwise over the centre of the seat.  The centre of the seat shall be determined as half the distance from the forward most point of the front edge of the seat to the rear edge of the seat.  Where the seat is fitted with arms for the purpose of separating the seating spaces and such arms are so constructed that they can be folded back or otherwise put out of use, such seat shall be measured as if it were not fitted with such arms.

        c)    All vehicles licensed shall comply with the following minimum standard of internal space:-

The distance from the rear seat-back to the rearmost part of the seat in front of that seat or other partition shall not be less than 610mm, when the seat in front is in it rearmost position.

RESOLVED:                That Members approved Option 1 of the report and approved the implementation of the new licence conditions detailed above.

REASON:                     Option 1 will assist Officers in making sure that licensed vehicles provide adequate seating and internal space capacity to carry customers comfortably and safely.