To receive declarations of personal and prejudicial interest (if any) from Members/Officers in accordance with the provisions of the Members Code of Conduct adopted by Council from 1 September 2008.

None.

The Team Manager – Licensing presented a report, the purpose of which, was to ask the Sub-Committee to determine an application to grant a licence for a private hire vehicle. She confirmed that the application fell outside the age policy guidelines adopted by the Licensing Committee (for the reasons contained within the report).

She advised that an application had been made by Robin Leigh of Bridgend to licence an Audi A6 vehicle registration number UIG 7568 as a private hire vehicle to seat 4 persons.

The vehicle was pre-owned, was first registered at the DVLA on 29 September 2011 and the above is a private number plate. The V5 Registration document, confirmed that Mr Leigh acquired the vehicle on 2 March 2021. He had been made aware of the age policy guidelines in place for the grant of vehicle licences and wished to pursue the application.

The vehicle falls outside of the age policy guidelines for first licensing of vehicles, as set out in paragraph 4.5 of the report and did not fall into the category of a minibus wheelchair accessible fitted with a tail lift.

Mr Leigh had submitted supporting documentation which was attached at Appendix A to the report. The last MOT Certificate issued was attached at Appendix B.

In terms of the Licensing Policy guidelines, the following policy extract was approved by the Licensing Committee on 17 November 2020 and came into effect on 1 February 2021. This followed a request from the trade to relax the previous age policy guidelines.

“From 1 February 2021, vehicles submitted for licensing for the first time must be less than 5 years old from the date of first registration; or first use/date of manufacture if the vehicle is imported, with the exception of minibus type   vehicles fitted with permanent automated tail lifts which may be aged up to 10 years on first licensing.”

The Council’s licensing page also included the following advice:-

‘If you are in any doubt about whether a vehicle falls within policy guidelines please email us for advice before you make a financial commitment.’

The policy guidelines applied equally to both hackney carriage and private hire vehicles. 

The Team Manager – Licensing advised the Sub-Committee, that the vehicle subject of the application was almost 10 years old and therefore fell outside of the policy guidelines detailed above.

Mr. Leigh in support of his application, advised Members that the reason he bought the vehicle to licence as a Private Hire Vehicle, was due to the fact that notwithstanding its age, it was in excellent condition and had a full Audi service history. It had one mark on the wheels when he purchased it, so he decided to have all the wheels on the car then re-conditioned. Mr. Leigh asked the Sub-Committee if they had seen photographs of the vehicle, in order for them to see the supreme condition it was in.

The Chairperson on behalf of Members, advised that the Sub-Committee had not been provided with photographs of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 282.

To consider any other item(s) of business in respect of which notice has been given in accordance with Rule 4 of the Council Procedure Rules and which the person presiding at the meeting is of the opinion should by reason of special circumstances be transacted at the meeting as a matter of urgency.

None.