The Corporate Director – Operational and Partnership Services submitted a report, the purpose of which, was to consider the suitability of a Ford Journey Plus to be licensed to carry six passengers as a Hackney Carriage in Bridgend. He added that a similar vehicle would be available for inspection at the meeting.

The report gave some background information, which contained information on vehicle specifications that qualified in accord with the Council’s Licensing Policy, to be classed as vehicles suitable to carry six passengers or less than that if they carried a wheelchair passenger.

The Senior Licensing Enforcement Officer advised that the report was subject of a request that had been made by a Mr Byron Davies for the licensing authority to consider the Ford Journey Plus as a type of vehicle suitable for use as a hackney carriage in Bridgend CBC. He had not yet purchased the vehicle.

A similar vehicle to the one Mr Davies intended purchasing, was inspected by a Licensing Enforcement Officer and was found not to be suitable to be licensed in its present form, as it did not meet the dimensions as specified in the hackney carriage vehicle specifications policy, primarily as the rear seat width was 15.5 inches and as such below the required 17 inches.

A photograph available from the Cab Direct website of the two rear foldaway seats was attached at Appendix A to the report.

Mr Davies had sent a letter to the Council (Appendix B to the report refers) requesting that the Authority considers licensing the vehicle for 6 passengers, notwithstanding the fact that as a result of the vehicle inspection, he had been advised that the vehicle did not meet the minimum specification, but that it could be licensed for fewer passengers.

The Committee (aside of Councillors C James, P John and M Jones) then proceeded to inspect a similar vehicle to the one Mr Davies intended purchasing, which situate in the Civic Offices basement car park.

Following the Members/Officers, Mr Davies and Mr P Renwick from Premier Cars returning to the meeting, members asked questions of Mr Davies in respect of the vehicle he attended purchasing, similar to the vehicle that was inspected.

Officers and the applicant then retired from the meeting, in order that Members could deliberate the decision with the advice of the Legal Officer.

Upon parties being summoned to return to the meeting, it was

RESOLVED:                    The Committee has considered the application to licence a Ford Journey Plus to carry six passengers as a Hackney Carriage in Bridgend. The Committee have inspected the vehicle and considered their policy. This vehicle does not meet the policy as the two rear tip and turn foldaway seats do not comply with the vehicle specifications contained in the policy as the seat width only measures 15.5 inches, which is below the requirement of 17 inches. After inspecting the vehicle and sitting in the two foldaway seats the Committee have decided that they are not suitable to carry passengers because of the difficulties in entering and exiting the vehicle when using those seats. The Committee have decided to licence the vehicle to carry four passengers and a wheelchair.

                                         The Committee will not make a determination in relation to a private hire vehicle because the application before Members was for a hackney carriage and not a private hire vehicle.