Agenda and draft minutes

None.

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting held on 26 June 2025.

RESOLVED – that the minutes of the previous meeting held on 26 June 2025 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To seek approval from the committee for authorisation of officers of another licensing authority to undertake compliance functions under Section 68 and 73 of the Local Government Act (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, as amended.

The Service Delivery Manager - Registrars, Public Protection, Legal & Democracy presented the Delegated Authority for Wolverhampton City Council report which sought approval for the authorisation of officers of another licensing authority to undertake compliance functions under Section 68 and 73 of the Local Government Act (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, as amended and also sought approval to delegate authority to the Director: Policy & Governance, in exceptional circumstances, to approve the continued licensing of a wheelchair-accessible Private Hire Vehicle beyond the standard age limit of 12 years, up to a maximum of 15 years. This delegation would apply only to purpose built or suitably modified vehicles that met the requirements set out under the Criteria for Exceptional Condition detailed in Appendix 1 to the report.

The Licensing Authority had recently received confirmation that Licensing and Night-Time Economy Officers had been granted delegated authority by Wolverhampton City Council under Section 101(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 permitting them to discharge functions on behalf of another local authority.  The delegation provided authority under Sections 68 and 73 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 (as amended) for Officers to undertake the inspection and determination of a vehicle’s fitness and offences of obstructing authorised officers during investigations as set out in the report.

Members were informed that this report set out reciprocal working arrangements for a range of measures working alongside neighbouring authorities within a legislative landscape.  The Deregulation Act set out that as long as a vehicle, driver and operator were all licensed with a single authority, work could be undertaken wherever they wanted.  The report set out how this would be practically managed by a sensible approach to enable the control of vehicles within the borough.

There were currently 443 private hire vehicles licensed with Wolverhampton with 237 of these having Telford addresses and a large number of these worked within the borough.

During a vehicle inspection, assessments would be undertaken using the relevant conditions.  The Officers had received suitable training and Members would be heartened to learn that the disparity in the gap between the authorities had narrowed and there were few differences meaning that an unsafe vehicle in the borough would also be deemed unsafe in Wolverhampton.  By offering the reciprocal roadside checks it ensured that when local drivers were operating elsewhere the public were kept safe.

The Regulatory Committee was also asked to consider granting delegated authority to officers to consider applications to extend the vehicle age limit in respect of purposefully adapted wheelchair accessible vehicles to 15 years.  The current policy had a maximum age limit of 12 years for licensed vehicles from the date of first registration.  During the last year there had been three applications requesting to extend the vehicle limit which involved submitting an application to be considered by a sub-committee of the Regulatory Committee.  By granting delegated authority this would ensure that the applications could be dealt with swiftly and without the need to convene  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.