Decision Maker: General Licensing Committee

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: November 28, 2024

Purpose:

Content: The Committee AGREED that in the exceptional circumstances, where no Council-approved garage exists to issue certificates of compliance to hackney carriages and private hire vehicles, to extend the temporary deviation from the Council’s Policy for 12 months or until a long-term solution is in place, whichever is sooner, by allowing the submission of a standard M.O.T. certificate issued by a DVSA approved garage in place of a certificate of compliance in the following circumstances: 1. With an application to license a new or replacement vehicle that is older than one year, provided that the M.O.T. certificate was issued in the month prior to the application for the licence being submitted to the Council, and then subsequently no later than the expiry date of the M.O.T. certificate; 2. Prior to the first anniversary of the date of first registration of any licensed vehicle that is less than one year old, and then subsequently no later than the expiry date of the M.O.T. certificate; 3. No later than the expiry date of any M.O.T. certificate issued in respect of a licensed vehicle; and 4. Prior to a licence being reinstated after it has been suspended due to concerns about its fitness or the vehicle becoming temporarily unlicensed due to involvement in an accident, where the M.O.T. certificate must have been issued after the date of the suspension or accident, as applicable.   The Committee also AGREED for a new tendering process to be carried out in the new year but for the tendering process to be extended to include garages outside of Torfaen and if no suitable garage is approved following that process that Officers seek views of licence holders and members of the public and feedback to the Committee at a future meeting about: i) Changing the Council’s Policy on the Administration and Regulation of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licences to allow M.O.T. test certificates in place of certificates of compliance, ii) The frequency of M.O.T. testing of licensed vehicles, and iii) Officer inspections of all licensed vehicles being carried out prior to a licence being issued or renewed.