Agenda item

This report seeks Members’ recommendation to the Executive Member for Housing and Safer Neighbourhoods an amendment to the Taxi Licensing Policy (the Policy) with regards to Executive Vehicles, following a request from a vehicle licence proprietor and the operator of Executive Vehicles.  

Members considered a report which sought their recommendation to the Executive Member for Housing and Safer Neighbourhoods for an amendment to the Taxi Licensing Policy (the Policy) with regards to Executive Vehicles, following a request from a vehicle licence proprietor and the operator of Executive Vehicles. The proprietor had Exemption Notices in line with the Council’s Policy so that their executive vehicles did not have to display vehicle licence plates and signage.  The proprietor was now seeking an amendment to the Policy so that such executive vehicles were also exempt from the requirements of private hire vehicle licence condition 19.  Appendix 1 ‘Private Hire Vehicle Licence Conditions’ of the Policy were attached at Annex 1 of the report.

The Licensing Manager was in attendance to present the report. She explained the background, current policy and consultation undertaken (for which there had been no responses).  She explained the  policy position with regards to the West Yorkshire authorities who allowed manufactured tint on vehicle windows. She then outlined the options available to Members. In response to questions raised she noted that she could check what the definition of opaque was, She was asked and advised that the option of whether to only allow manufacturers tint was open to Members. She was also asked and clarified what work could be undertaken as part of contract work. She also clarified that cash could not be taken at the end of the hire and if a complaint was made about the acceptance of cash, this would be investigated proportionately.

Members considered Appendix 2 of the Taxi Licensing Policy and agreed the following amendments to be recommended to the Executive Member for Housing and Safer Neighbourhoods during her consideration of the policy:

Point 3

This policy sets out the requirements of the council with regards to the operators of private hire vehicles who wish to apply for or already hold an exemption with regards to the displaying of windows, licence plates and signage.  

Point 8

Condition 19 of the Private Hire Vehicle Licence Conditions does not apply, the light transmittance of windows can be:

i) All licensed vehicles shall be fitted with windscreen glass that has a light transmittance of 75% and windows to either side of the drivers head shall have a light transmittance of not less than 70%.

ii) All other windows within licensed executive vehicles can be of any manufacturer’s tint providing it is not opaque.

Point 12 (n)

The driver will not take the fare at the end of the hire.

It was then

Resolved: That Members approve Option 1 to take into consideration the request made by the operator of executive vehicles, as well as the policy positions in place for the West Yorkshire Authorities and recommend to the Executive Member of Housing and Safer Neighbourhoods the approval of the amendments to Appendix 2 of the Taxi Licensing Policy in relation to Private Hire Vehicle Licence Plate & Signage Exemption Policy, as detailed at Annex 3 of the report and the above amendments to points 3, 8 and 12.

Reason:     The Council has already established a Policy with regards to executive vehicles which stipulates the vehicles use and therefore allows the exemption from displaying signage and licence plates.