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JSM - Application for the Grant of a Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licence Seeking Departure from Bristol City Council Policy
- Meeting of Public Safety and Protection Sub-Committee B, Tuesday, 18th January, 2022 10.00 am (Item 50.)
- View the reasons why item 50. is restricted
Minutes:
The Sub-Committee considered an application by JSM for the grant of a Hackney Carriage Vehicle (HCV) licence seeking departure from Council policy.
Graham Lange, Licensing Officer, introduced this report and made the following points:
· On 26 November 2021 Mr Mohamed submitted a grant renewal form in respect of his vehicle
· The vehicle previously held a HCV licence which expired on 04 January 2021
· The vehicle was first registered on 08 June 2018 and first licenced as a Hackney Carriage Vehicle on 05 July 2018
· The vehicle is fitted with a diesel engine
· JSM has requested an exemption to policy in respect of a new Hackney
Vehicle application due to being out of the country from October 2020 until October 2021. Members’ attention was drawn to an appendix in the report which set out the time period and reasons for being outside the UK during the period that the renewal was required
· It was noted that the application to renew had been made more than 10 months after expiry.
· It was also noted that all applicants must provide certificate of good character if coming from abroad and none had been provided from Somalia which was the country in question for this application
JSM made the following points:
· He explained that he had been driving a taxi for more than 7 years
· His mum who lived in Somalia seemed sick. Whilst he initially thought he would not need to travel back to Somalia to help her, it became clear that he needed to do so as her illness could be COVID-19 related
· He had a ticket to return in December 2020 but had to stay in Somalia longer than anticipated as his Mum was still unwell.
· His mother had died in March 2021 and, due to travel restrictions, he was unable to get back to the UK for another 2/3 months.
· Before 2018, JSM had a diesel taxi. He did not have the money to change this for a euro taxi as the car was only two years old at the time.
· JSM had explained the situation to Bristol City Council and that this is why it was longer than 10 months until I reapplied.
· JSM had not been working in December 2021 and was not currently working which was causing financial problems
In response to questions from the Sub-Committee, JSM made the following points:
· He had fingerprints taken by the Avon and Somerset Police who had sent them to Somalia. Following this, he had obtained a certificate of good character which he produced for the Sub-Committee. The Licensing Policy Adviser confirmed that this seemed correct but would be subject to a background check
· Whilst there were opportunities to make an online application in Somalia, he has faced a very difficult situation there as his mother was unwell and the security situation was poor due to the number of deaths that were taking place.
· The mileage on the vehicle was just under 30 miles and that, since it was a Euro 6, it had a clean air facility
In response to questions from the Sub-Committee, the Licensing Policy Adviser confirmed that the issue of any exemption from the clean air change was a separate matter from the application.
The Chair requested that all parties to withdraw from the hearing to allow the Sub-Committee to make its decision. Upon their return, the following decision was announced:
RESOLVED (unanimously) – that the request for an exemption from Bristol City Council policy be allowed for the grant of a Hackney Carriage Vehicle (HCV) licence.