Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Allen, Councillor Serluca, Councillor Saltmarsh and Councillor Davidson.          

There were no declarations of interest.

The minutes of the meeting held on 18 July 2013 were approved as a true and accurate record.

The minutes of the meeting held on 29 July 2013 were approved as a true and accurate record.

i)             17/07/13

ii)            16/09/13

         The following minutes of the Sub-Committee hearings held between July 2013 and September 2013 were approved as true and accurate records:

i)              17/07/13 – New Premises Licence, Iain Gordon-Smith

ii)             16/09/13 – Review of Premises Licence, Marisqueira

         The Committee received a report as a result of its decision at the meeting held on 29 July 2013 to approve specific models of the Peugeot E7 as suitable to be licensed as a Hackney Carriage Vehicle in Peterborough.

         Following approval from the Committee, the existing Conditions of Fitness were amended and named the ‘Peterborough Conditions of Fitness for Hackney Carriage Vehicles’.

In order for the Peugeot E7 vehicle to be licensed, specific conditions within the existing ‘Conditions of Fitness’ were required to be amended or removed to enable the vehicle to meet the specification required. Officers had also taken the opportunity to update the conditions in general to ensure that when adopted, the ‘Peterborough Conditions of Fitness for Hackney Carriage Vehicles’ would be appropriate and fit for purpose. Following a decision by the Committee, the outcome would form part of the Peterborough City Council’s Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Policy and Guidance document.

         It was therefore requested that the Committee approve the draft ‘Conditions of Fitness’ and to adopt the conditions as the ‘Peterborough Conditions of Fitness for Hackney Carriage Vehicles’. The Committee was also requested to consider the possible exemptions available in relation to condition 13.3, this being ‘the requirement for the nearside occasional flip down seat to be of swivel type’ and to agree appropriate exemptions with appropriate set timeframes and implementation dates.

The Licensing Officer addressed the Committee and provided an overview of the exemption options available and further advised that it was requested that condition 12.11 be amended to remove the necessity for the ramp to have a ‘safety lip’. 

Members were invited to comment on the conditions and issues raised and responses to questions included:

·         Many of the current licensed Hackney Vehicles did not have the swivel seat fitted and it would be un-realistic to request a retrofit, due to both cost and practicality. The Committee was therefore requested to issue exemptions as it saw fit;

·         The Committee may offer an exemption to the Mercedes-Benz Vito for a specified time. This would allow the manufacturers and suppliers to explore the possibility of providing the swivel seat; and

·         A permanent exemption could be given to the Mercedes-Benz Vito, however this could be perceived by the other manufacturers and suppliers as a commercial advantage to Mercedes.

Simon Guilliatt, Allied Vehicles, was present and requested permission to speak. This was agreed by the Committee.

Mr Guilliatt addressed the Committee and the key points outlined included:

·         The reconsideration of the conditions of fitness had seen the removal of the tight turning circle requirements, this was welcomed;

·         The requirement for a swivel mounted rear passenger seat was not objected to in principle, however with the proposed exemptions the requirement would only apply to E7 taxis;

·         The effect would be that E7s would cost more than they otherwise would and this would make them less attractive to buyers;

·         Competing commercial bodies should be dealt with both fairly and equally unless there was a compelling reason not to, for which there  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.