Policy Meeting 10th Feb 2009

The Licensing Board of Sheffield City Council had a policy meeting on 10th Feb 2009. The three Taxi Licensing Policies that were debated were as follows.

1, Amendments to the Private Hire Vehicle Specification.

2, Illegal plying for hire

3, Advertising on/in Licensed Vehicles.

The reports are available on the Councils web site http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/your-city-council/council-meetings/licensing-board

I will give a short summary of the resolutions made by the Board, the full results will be available next month after the minutes have been recorded as a true record of the Board meeting.

1, Amendments to the PHV Spec, all the amendments were accepted and the new specification will come into force immediately. The new specifications are currently with the printers and will be available soon from the Licensing Section.

Anybody that is currently considering purchasing a vehicle to Licence as Private hire vehicle should make themselves aware of the changes to the specification.

2, Illegal Plying for hire, The Members confirmed that:

i) Because of the potentially serious consequences of the offence, offenders will be
prosecuted (where there is considered to be sufficient evidence to secure
a conviction and it is in the public interest to do so);

ii) Officers must endeavour to recover the costs of prosecutions from those convicted in
order to reduce the financial burden on licensed drivers who work within the law;

iii) Officer’s refer any current licensed drivers to the Licensing Board at the point that there is
sufficient evidence for the Officers to submit a file for legal proceedings to be brought
against that driver.

iv) Unless there are exceptional circumstances offenders should expect to have
any licences they hold revoked and/or any application for a licence refused.

v) Councillors’ confirm that they deem that this offence is a matter of public safety
and any revocation of a licence would be done under Section 52 Road Safety Act
2006, which amends Section 61 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions)
Act 1976. This means any revocation would be with immediate effect.

vi) A copy of this report and the resulting resolution is made available to the Courts when
relevant cases are being considered.

3. Advertising on licensed vehicles.

Hackney Drivers already know that if they place an advert or notice on or in their vehicle they have to apply to the Council (Licensing Section) for written consent to be allowed to display the advert or notice.

The Board determined
To extend the Policy to allow advertisements to be placed in or on Private Hire Vehicles
and gave authority to the Assistant Chief Executive Legal & Governance to make the
necessary changes to the conditions of a private hire vehicle licence to reflect this.

Authorised the setting of a fee to cover the cost associated with the administration and this
was set at £10 per consent which is be reviewed annually as part of the fees review.

The Charges will come into effect from Monday 16th February 2009.

The Scheduled Policy meeting will be held in April 2009.

1. VEHICLE SPECIFCATION (proposal)

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.


Admin
Admin

Posts : 422
Joined : 09 Mar 2007
Localisation : Sheffield

Did any one object to the proposal on advertising? Well looks like they failed even if someone did.

No objections were raised from the Private Hire Trade, in fact the Private Hire trade were not represented at the meeting. The Stta made some objections to the fee for consent but not about the possibilty of PHV's advertising.