Agenda and draft minutes

RESOLVED:

          That Councillor Laming be confirmed as Chairperson for                            the meeting.

To receive any disclosure of interests from Members and Officers in matters to be discussed.

Note: Councillors are reminded of their obligations to declare disclosable pecuniary interests, personal and/or prejudicial interests in accordance with legislation and the Council’s Code of Conduct.

There were no disclosure of interests made at this meeting.

The Chairperson welcomed the applicant, Mr Roger Walker, to the meeting.

The Licensing Officer introduced the report which set out an application received from Mr Roger Walker to licence an electric tuk tuk as a special private hire vehicle. Mr Walker proposed to provide a pre-bookable service for weddings, special events and short journeys in and around Winchester and was looking to operate during the summer months initially, when the weather was generally improved. The fare payable would be set by the operator when a booking is made. The tuk tuk was a three-seater vehicle with motorbike steering, classed as a tricycle by the DVLA for MOT purposes, electric powered for approximately 50 miles with a maximum speed of 20mph and would be a UK approved vehicle. A comprehensive document with business plan, proposed costs to customers, proposed tour routes and vehicle specifications was provided by Mr Walker, as set out in Appendices 2 and 3 of the report.

The Licensing Officer reminded the Sub-Committee that, if minded to grant the licence, this would be a special private hire (tuk tuk) licence for the vehicle in question and special conditions approved by the Sub-Committee would be attached to the licence. The standard Hackney Carriage and/or Private Hire Vehicle Conditions had been amended for the application and vehicle type which would be attached to the licence if granted, as set out in Appendix 4 to the report, subject to approval/and or any amendments considered necessary by the Sub-Committee and the tuk tuk being tested to ensure its safety and appearance to carry passengers. It was reported that Mr Walker would not submit an application for a new private hire driver’s licence until a decision had been taken on this application.

In conclusion, if minded to grant the licence, the Sub-Committee were asked  to depart from the Statement of Licensing Policy in respect to Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicles, Drivers and Private Hire Operators (the Policy) for paragraphs 3.4 and 3.12 of the Policy. The Licensing Officer referred the Sub-Committee to the full options it could consider in the determination of the application, as set out within the report.

At the invitation of the Chairperson, the applicant, Roger Walker, addressed the Sub-Committee to set out the application and answered questions of the Sub-Committee thereon. Mr Walker clarified that the electric tuk tuk would carry two passengers plus one driver (total 3 persons) and made reference to a number of points, including a request for the minimum age of passengers travelling in the tuk tuk to be 15 years of age to allow him to offer transport to students attending prom nights or similar events and advised of the UK specifications and DVLA requirements for the purchase and approval of a tuk tuk vehicle.

For clarification following questions of the Sub-Committee in relation to the  transportation of assistance dogs, the Litigation Lawyer made reference to Section 170 of the Equality Act 2010 which stated, ‘The operator of a private hire  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.