Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive any Declarations and advise Members accordingly.

None were received.

That the application be approved subject to the following conditions:

·         All current markings inside and outside that indicate it might be an ambulance are removed within 14 days; and

·         The applicant or persons working on his behalf who will be using the vehicle familiarise themselves with the hydraulic step/lift at the rear of the vehicle, all seats and seat belts and any relevant mechanisms that assist passengers.  This should be demonstrated to a satisfactory standard to the Licensing Section at Flintshire County Council premises, no later than 21 days at a time agreed by the Licensing Section.

The Chairman welcomed the applicant, introduced the members of the Sub-Committee and explained the procedure for the hearing.

The Licensing Team Leader introduced the report for Members to consider a request from a licensed Private Hire Operator to depart from the agreed vehicle specifications, so that a vehicle that did not meet the minimum requirements could become licensed.

The Council had a Private Hire Vehicle Specification which enabled applicants to understand what was required when applying to licence a vehicle for Private Hire and was detailed in Appendix A to the report.  The specifications were a minimum requirement for vehicles and were intended to ensure the safety and comfort of passengers.

A white Renault Master was recently presented for MOT and compliance testing at one of the garages nominated by the Council to undertake testing of Private Hire and Hackney Carriage vehicles.  The tester contacted the Licensing Section to advice that some of the seats did not meet the minimum size requirement of 400mm and he was therefore unable to pass the vehicle.

The vehicle had previously been used as an ambulance and the layout was as such.  There were two chairs which doubled up as wheelchair anchorage points.  The seat detached from the chair back, and the wheelchair user was anchored to the rear of the seat.  Both of those points, when used as seats, did not meet the minimum requirement of 400mm.   Some other fixed seating also fell slightly short of the minimum requirement.

The Operator had requested that the Licensing Sub-Committee look at the vehicle with a view to departing from the minimum requirements to allow the vehicle to be tested and licensed as a Private Hire Vehicle.  His written request and photographs of the vehicle were shown as Appendices B and C to the report.

Members were requested to view the vehicle and use the seats, keeping the safety and comfort of users as their main consideration.

Mr Roberts said he appreciated the vehicle did not meet the required standards but he wanted to use the vehicle as one that could offer wheelchair access, which he felt was in short supply in the area.  He undertook hospital work for BCUHB and he commented on the length of time patients waited for suitable vehicles to transport them.  The primary use of the vehicle was not for evening work.

His vehicle met all of the VOSA safety requirements.

In response to a question from the Chairman, the Licensing Team Leader explained that any vehicle could only be licensed for a maximum of 8 passengers, which was a total of 9 people including the driver.

Members of the Sub-Committee went to view the vehicle and sat in all of the seats.  The applicant demonstrated the wheelchair anchorage points and how they transferred to become seats.

A number of questions were asked and the applicant provided clarification on the points raised to the satisfaction of the Members.

Decision

The applicant and the Licensing Team Leader left the room during consideration  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.