PLANS to license Hackney Carriages which operate mostly in the Vale to protect public safety are to be considered by the council.

The intended use/remote trading policy would see only vehicles which intend to operate predominantly in the council area receive a license.

The report justifies this a measure on the grounds of public safety because "if vehicles are predominantly operating outside of the area where they are licensed, then they are not available to be spot checked by officers when carrying out enforcement."

The policy is also being considered for Cardiff and Bridgend which are fellow members of the Shared Regulatory Services area.

The report states that the policy is intended to deal with the issues that arise from operators obtaining a Hackney Carriage vehicle licence in the Vale of Glamorgan which then allows them to trade as a private hire vehicle anywhere in the UK.

Whilst there is limited concern about remote trading in the Vale, best practice advocates that "prevention is better than cure," the report states.

The head of the Shared Regulatory Service already has delegated authority to revoke or suspend Hackney Carriage or private vehicle hire licences.

A 2008 High Court Judgement - Newcastle City Council v Berwick-upon-Tweed, established a principle that it was lawful for Hackney Carriages to trade as private hire vehicles, accepting only pre bookings, in a local authority area other than that which issued the licences.

Whilst this is accepted principle for journeys to and from neighbouring authorities such as Cardiff and Bridgend, the Vale council will consider ways in which to crack down on vehicles which predominately trade outside the area.

A spokesman for the Shared Regulatory Services said: "The Vale of Glamorgan Council, along with Cardiff and Bridgend councils are seeking to establish a process whereby only hackney carriages which are intended to be predominantly used within the council area are licensed and which would normally refuse licences to hackney carriages where the proprietor does not intend that the vehicle will be used in the area.

"The council is adopting the intended use policy on the grounds of public safety.

"If vehicles licensed by the Vale of Glamorgan are operating outside the area it means the vehicle cannot be effectively monitored to ensure that they are safe for the public."

The proposal will go before the council's public protection licensing committee on Tuesday, December 6.