Agenda item

The driver was present.

The Licensing Officer introduced the report and summarised it for everyone.

·       This is not a licence application but a request for the committee to make an ‘in principle’ decision.

·       NY has an 8-seater vehicle which is 10 years old next year. He wants to purchase another 8-seater vehicle which will have a diesel engine (Euro 6) as there is no comparative petrol model for this. An electric model has a range of around 220 miles, which is not a viable alternative for NY’s work, which is mainly runs to Bristol and other airports.

·       The Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy states that Vehicles presented for licensing on the first occasion shall be petrol, petrol hybrid or an Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV, excluding diesel ULEV vehicles)

·       Exceptions to the requirement that vehicles will be petrol may be grantedby the Licensing Manager in respect of executive vehicles (including 8 seaters executive vehicles) as a result of these vehicles often only being available with diesel engines, however no such exemption applies for non-executive 8-seater vehicles

·        NY argues that this vehicle is essential to carry out his work.

The following points arose from questioning:

·       There are Euro 6 compliant diesel vehicles operating in the Bristol area as they can be licenced as a renewal application, but not a new application.

·       NY would like to purchase the vehicle as soon as possible as this is peak time for his usual airport work. He transports people considerable distances to Bristol Airport, so an electric vehicle is unsuitable.

·       Executive private hire vehicles are typically expensive and high spec. They are frequently diesel vehicles and are used for chauffer work. However, NY does not perform chauffer work.

·       A lack of petrol 8-seater vehicles, especially for airport journeys, could result in two regular vehicles doing the same journey which could have a greater environmental impact.

·       The proposed vehicle would be Clean Air Zone compliant.

Decision:

The Sub-Committee considered this request in principle to licence an 8-seater Private Hire Vehicle, a Mercedes Benz Vito, fitted with a diesel engine. The Sub-Committee decided to depart from its policy on this occasion due to 8-seater vehicles not being readily available with a petrol engine, and an electric vehicle of this size not being suitable for the type of work it is to be used for (i.e. predominantly airport work). 

The Sub-Committee does not have an application to consider, and NY has not yet purchased a vehicle, however in principle agrees to depart from policy if NY later applies for a Private Hire Vehicle provided that it is less than 3.5 years old at the time of application, is Bristol Clean Air Zone compliant (i.e. not subject to daily charges) and Euro 6 compliant as well as complying with all other aspects of the private hire vehicle specification in the Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy (which NY should carefully read to ensure that he knows what needs to be complied with).

The Sub-Committee delegates the matter to the Licensing Team to consider an application from NY unless there is reason for it to come back before the Sub-Committee.  Note that this decision is not a grant of a licence and if there are any other matters to be considered, a different decision may be reached. Personal circumstances, including financial circumstances are not a relevant consideration when deciding this matter.