MEETING 10th Feb *Important*

Policy review on Private Hire vehicles



1.0 Purpose

1.1 To review the current specification, which is used to determine the suitability of a vehicle to be licensed as a Private Hire Vehicle.

2.0 Background

2.1 The Licensing Board in February 2008 set a policy of only allowing vehicles that met a certain specification and criteria to be licensed as private hire vehicles.

2.2 Any application taken for a vehicle that did not meet the specification would need to be referred to the Licensing Board for consideration, but the applicant was to be made fully aware of the specification before they made an application.

2.3 The current specification is attached to all private hire vehicle application forms.

3.0 The current position

3.1 The current specification is attached to this report at Appendix 1.

4.0 Proposal

4.1 To amend the current specification to remove some anomalies that have arisen since the specification was passed by the Licensing Board.

4.2 The proposed amendments are at Appendix 2 of this report.


5.0 Consultation

5.1 The report was circulated at the scheduled trades meetings on 27th January 2009.

5.2 Representatives of the trades associations have been invited to attend this meeting this meeting and advised that, subject to the consent of the chair, they may address the meeting.

5.3 Any written representations received will be made available at the meeting.

6.0 Financial Implications

6.1 There are no financial implications to the Council.



7.0 Options

7.1 The Board consider the report and any representations and accept the revised specification as attached at Appendix 2.

7.2 The Board make recommendations to alter the current specification and detail the changes.

7.3 Consider the current specification as a suitable and make no changes to it.


8.0 Recommendations

8.1 The Board consider this report and any representations made to it.


10th February 2009

New Applications

From 12/February/2008 only those vehicles which comply with the specification detailed below can have licences granted by Licensing Officers. Should you wish to proceed with an application in respect of a vehicle, which does not comply, to the specification, then it will be referred to the Licensing Board of Sheffield City Council for decision.

Existing Licensed Vehicles

Vehicles that are currently licensed as private hire vehicles by Sheffield City Council will continue to be licensed on renewal applications subject to the usual criteria e.g. pass the relevant tests, renewal applications made before expiry of licence etc.

THE SPECIFICATION

1. Steering

Must be right hand drive.

2. Wheels

4 Road wheels/tyres

Space saver spare tyres, where fitted as standard equipment to the vehicle, will be accepted. A vehicle presented for test with a space saver in use as a road wheel will fail the test.

Tyres must have at least 2mm depth of tread at time of testing. The vehicle must have a serviceable wheel brace and jack.

Any spare wheel must conform to construction and use regulations.
3. Dimensions

Leg room – the minimum leg room available to any passenger shall be 609 mm (approx 24 inches). The measurement will be taken from the base of the seat to the rear of the seat in front when the front seat is at its full, rearwards extension. Where there is no seat in front the measurement will be taken from the base of the seat to the nearest obstruction in front.

Head room – the minimum internal floor to roof height in seating areas shall be 1092 mm (approx 43 inches).

Ride height – access to the vehicle shall not be more than 46 cm (approx 18 inches) from the ground level.


Where the top tread for the entrance exceeds 46 cm and the vehicle is not fitted with approved running boards. A moveable intermediate step must be provided at each entrance into the passenger compartment. The intermediate step shall be encased beneath the vehicle and be electrically operated to extend outwards. When not in use and whenever the vehicle is in motion, the step must not extend outwards beyond the vertical line of the bodywork.

The step must be operated from within the driver’s compartment and must have a failsafe device linked to the handbrake mechanism to prevent the possibility of the vehicle being driven while the step is extended.

The step must be covered with a suitable non-slip surface with the edges of the step highlighted in a high visibility colour, which is different from the colour scheme of the vehicle.

Running boards will only be allowed where they are fitted by manufacturers and the vehicle must have European Whole type approval with running boards. All running boards must conform with construction and use regulations, meaning boards must not exceed the width of the widest part of the vehicle (mirrors are not included as part of the vehicle), The board must be a minimum five inches in width, all of which must be available as a step.

Luggage space – the dedicated accessible luggage space shall be not less than 0.43 cubic metres (15 cubic feet). The luggage space must either be a separate lockable compartment or there must be some suitable device fitted to prevent luggage coming in to contact with the passengers e.g. in a collision.

4. Doors

Minimum of 4 doors, easily accessible to passengers without the need to move any other seat etc, to gain access to them.

Exception where a vehicle has a single passenger carrying area (e.g. minibus) then there must be two doors available to every passenger for egress from the vehicle. Seek clarification from Licensing if the vehicle you propose licensing has fewer than 4 doors.

All doors must be fitted with reflectors/reflective strips or lights, which are clearly visible from the rear of the vehicle when the door is open.

Sliding doors

The interior door handle must be clearly visible and easily accessible to passengers when the door is in a fully open position.

There must be approved reflective strips on both the front and rear edges of the door.

There must be a sign in an approved position clearly visible from the rear of the vehicle bearing the words “door open”. This sign must be automatically linked to the passenger doors, in order that when either door handle is activated to open the door, the sign is illuminated. The size of the sign shall be not less than 400sq cms, and shall be so positioned so as not to impair the rear vision.






5. Seats

Vehicles must have a passenger seating capacity of not less than 4 persons and not more than 8 persons.

Each seat must be equipped with a suitable seat belt.

Each seat shall not be less than 406mm (approx 16 inches) in width.

Where bench seats are provided, then the seat must provide a minimum of 406mm seating space for each passenger i.e. a rear bench seat must not be less than 1218 mm (approx 48 inches) in order to accommodate 3 passengers.

6. Windows

Opening windows shall be provided with mechanisms, which permit the passenger adjacent to that window to open and close it.

Above 25% (allows 75% light ingress) tinted front windows and 70% side and rear windows which inhibit the ability to see passengers or the driver from the outside of the vehicle are not permitted.

A serviceable device for demisting the rear window must be fitted.

7. Heating system

Vehicles must have an efficient heating system.

8. Fire extinguisher

An appliance for extinguishing fire must be securely fitted to the vehicle within the driver’s compartment where it is within easy reach of the driver and does not interfere with the safe operation of the vehicle.

The fire extinguisher must comply with the requirements of BS EN3 1996 and have a minimum fire rating of 5a and 34b.

The fire extinguisher must contain not less than 0.9 litres AFFF foam or 1 KG dry powder and must have seal or gauge mechanism.

The fire extinguisher must be regularly maintained and annually inspected by a competent person. Details of the inspection must be recorded on the extinguisher.

The vehicle registration number shall be permanently and legibly marked on the extinguisher.

9. Bodywork and vehicle structure

a) The vehicle must have no signs of any significant accident damage which affects the safety or appearance of it.

b) The paintwork must be of a "professional" finish and consistent with the colour scheme of the vehicle.

c) All parts of the passenger compartment must be clean and free of any damage which may affect its suitability for the carriage of passengers.

d) The bodywork shall have no significant signs of corrosion.

10. Wheelchair carrying facilities.

Any vehicle that has the facility for the carriage of wheelchair passengers shall be fitted with; -

Approved anchorages must be provided for the wheelchair and wheelchair disabled person. These anchorages must be either chassis or floor linked and capable of withstanding approved dynamic or static tests. Restraints for wheelchair and occupant must be independent of each other. Anchorages must also be provided for the safe stowage of a wheelchair when not in use, whether folded or otherwise, if carried within the passenger compartment. All anchorages and restraints must be so designed that they do not cause any danger to other passengers.

A ramp or ramps for the loading of a wheelchair and occupant must be available at all times for use at the nearside rear passenger door. An adequate locking device must be fitted to ensure that the ramp(s) do not slip or tilt when in use. Provision must be made for the ramps to be stored safely when not in use.

The vehicle should be equipped with a manufacturer’s user manual/guide on the safe loading and unloading and security of wheelchair passengers

11. Autogas.

Only those vehicles, which are manufactured to operate on autogas and which have been type approved by the relevant government body will be licensed.

NB this may change should the relevant governmental department issue criteria for the testing of vehicles converted after manufacture to operate on autogas.

12. Other alternative fuelled vehicles/dual fuel vehicles.

Only those vehicles, which have been manufactured, to operate on that particular fuel system and which have been type approved by the relevant governmental body will be licensed.

NB this may change should the relevant government department issue criteria for the testing of vehicles converted after manufacture to operate on that type of fuel.

13. Currently licensed vehicles.

Any vehicle that is currently licensed and attends for a full mechanical test will be required to be fitted with the following.

13.1 The interior number stickers must in place where it is clearly visible to the passengers or public.

13.2 The rear door stickers must be in place on the vehicle.

Any person may, at any time, make an application for a private hire vehicle licence. The Council has a duty to consider all applications received.

Licensing Board 2008








1. VEHICLE SPECIFCATION

To now include vehicle suitability. As follows;

• All vehicles must comply in all respects with the requirements of the Motor Vehicle (Type Approval) Regulations 1980 and the Motor Vehicle (Type Approval) Regulations (Great Britain) 1984. Every new vehicle offered for approval must comply in all respects with the British and European vehicle regulations and be "type approved" to the requirements of the M or M1 category of European Whole Type Approval 70/156/EEC as amended. Those vehicles (e.g. van conversions) which have not been "type approved" to M or M1 categories must be presented with approved certification that the specific vehicle meets the requirements of M or M1 categories.

• Vehicles with only SVA (single vehicle approval) or from April 2009 (European Small series approval) will not be permitted.

• The vehicle shall have no signs of significant accident damage.

• No vehicle that has been categorised by insurance companies as a Category A, B, C & D insurance write offs will be accepted as suitable for a licence.

• The Bodywork shall have no significant signs of corrosion.

• The paint work shall be of a professional standard and finish and consistent within the colour scheme of the vehicle.

2. Wheels

• 4 Road wheels /tyres and a serviceable spare appropriate for vehicle.

• All tyres (including spare) must have at least 2mm of tread at the time of testing.

7. Tints

To now state as follows;

• Front windscreen to be not less than 75% ingress of light

• Both front side and rear side passenger windows not less than 70% ingress of light.

• In the cases of non saloon cars the rear side windows and rear windscreen that in the opinion of the tester does not impact on the seating area of passengers can have a higher density tint. But not to exceed less than 20% ingress of light.

14. Currently Licensed vehicles.

• Change 13.1 and 13.2 to 14.1 and 14.2








To now include a 14.3 as follows:

• Radio/Data head Apparatus

• Where a vehicle has been fitted with a two way radio or data head system, no part of the system may be fixed in the passenger area or compartment

• No part of the system can be in the rear boot compartment if LPG or CNG tanks or equipment are situated therein.

• No other radio equipment or image recording equipment shall be fitted in a vehicle without prior written consent from the City Council.


To now include 14.4 as follows:

• Exterior Licence plates

• The Licence plate issued by the City Council should be affixed to the rear outside of the vehicle as determined in the Licence conditions section 1. (3). The Licence plate should be fixed to the vehicle with the approved fixing plate and secured by the approved tag system.

To now include 15 as follows;

• Maintenance

• The vehicle including all fittings, advertisements, signs and notices must be maintained to the approved standards. The vehicle must be kept clean and in good working order. Vehicles will at any time be subject to test and inspection and should it be found that a vehicle is not being properly maintained or kept in good working order, a notice will be served on the driver or licensee prohibiting the use of the vehicle until the defects have been rectified or it has passed the City Council’s full mechanical test.

To now include 16 as follows;

• Advertisements

• The vehicle shall carry no advertisements other than the approved operator signs as stated in the conditions of licence, on, or inside of the vehicle without prior written consent from the City Council.

To now include 17 as follows;

• Entertainment Systems/Digital Media Systems

• The vehicle shall not be fitted with vision entertainment/digital media systems without the prior written consent of the City Council.






To now include 18 as follows;

• Interior lighting

• In the case of a separate passenger compartment an illuminated control switch must be fitted, and marked in such a way as not to be confused with any other control.

To now include 19 as follows:

• Auxiliary Equipment

• Any auxiliary equipment that is fitted to a vehicle must not impede the driver in any way, or hinder his/her view, or impede, or cause hazard to passengers or other road users.