Agenda and minutes

No apologies for absence were received.

Members will be asked to declare any interests they may have in the business on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Monitoring Officer to report on the receipt of any petitions submitted in accordance with the Council’s procedures.

The Monitoring Officer reported that no petitions had been submitted in accordance with the Council’s procedures.

The Monitoring Officer to report on the receipt of any questions, representations and statements of case submitted in accordance with the Council’s procedures.

The Monitoring Officer reported that no questions, representations and statements of case had been submitted in accordance with the Council’s procedures.

The Director of Neighbourhoods and Environmental Services submits a report.

The Director of Neighbourhood and Environmental Services submitted a report seeking approval for the Ford MAXicab to be licensed as a Hackney Carriage vehicle. The Committee received a presentation from Simon Gilleat, Marketing Manager, Allied Vehicles.

During the presentation and subsequent discussion, the following points were raised:

·       The MAXicab was available in diesel, plug-in hybrid and fully electric models. The vehicle presented to the Committee was the hybrid version.

·       The vehicle contained seating for up to seven passengers, included a protective driver screen and intercom system and was fully wheelchair accessible, with wheelchair users travelling in a forward-facing position.

·       Members noted that the vehicle did not fully comply with the Council's Conditions of Fitness in respect of width and length. Officers advised that the vehicle exceeded the permitted dimensions by a small margin.

·       Members welcomed the opportunity to increase the range of approved Hackney Carriage vehicles available to the trade.

·       In response to questions regarding electric vehicles, the representative advised that Allied Vehicles was currently the only manufacturer in the country producing a fully electric Hackney Carriage vehicle. The fully electric model cost approximately £70,000 compared with £57,000 for the hybrid model.

·       The representative stated that the fully electric model had a range of approximately 202 miles, reducing to around 180 miles when heating or air conditioning was in use. The hybrid vehicle remained the most popular option due to its flexibility and lower cost.

·       In response to questions regarding charging infrastructure, Members were advised that the hybrid model could be charged at home, whilst the fully electric vehicle was best suited to rapid charging facilities. The representative acknowledged that a fully electric vehicle would not currently be suitable for all drivers.

·       Members welcomed the representative's balanced assessment of the current limitations of electric vehicle technology whilst recognising the environmental benefits of lower-emission vehicles.

The Committee adjourned at 5.45 pm to inspect the vehicle and reconvened at 5.54 pm. During the adjournment, Members viewed the Ford MAXicab. Councillor Kitterick left the meeting and did not return. Simon Gilleat then withdrew from the meeting.

RESOLVED:

that the Ford MAXicab be approved for licensing as a Hackney Carriage vehicle.

The motion was carried unanimously.

A Member raised concern regarding a number of recent licensing matters involving premises connected with the sale of illicit tobacco, counterfeit goods and illegal vaping products. The Member noted that Trading Standards had recently brought a number of licence review applications before Licensing Panels and expressed concern that some businesses appeared to have connections to organised criminal activity.

In response, officers advised that criminal prosecutions could take a considerable period of time to conclude and that licence review proceedings provided an effective means of protecting the public interest whilst criminal investigations continued. It was noted that financial penalties alone were not always sufficient to deter unlawful activity.

Members requested a more detailed report on the work being undertaken by Trading Standards in relation to illicit tobacco, counterfeit goods and associated organised criminal activity. Members also asked whether representatives of the Police could attend a future meeting to discuss the issue.

With there being no further business, the meeting closed at 6.01 pm.