Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Licensing Policy 2021 to 2026

1. Maintenance of vehicles

The vehicle and all its fittings and equipment shall at all times when the vehicle is in use or available for hire be kept in an exceptionally well-maintained condition and all relevant statutory requirements shall be fully complied with.

2. Alteration of vehicle

No material alteration or change in the specification, design, condition or appearance of the vehicle shall be made without the approval of the Council at any time while the licence is in force.

3. Safety equipment

There shall be provided and maintained in the vehicle at all times when it is in use or available for hire a suitable and efficient fire extinguisher and a suitable first aid kit containing appropriate first aid dressings and appliances. Such equipment to be carried in such a position in the vehicle as to be readily visible and available for immediate use in an emergency.

Where a ramp or ramps are used to facilitate access into the vehicle, they must be fitted/carried in the vehicle at all times and must be identified with the vehicle registration number.

4. Interior identification marking

The proprietor shall cause to be clearly displayed inside the vehicle in such a position as to be visible at all times to persons conveyed therein, the internal comment card and at the top of each rear passenger door window a window sticker as supplied by the Council indicating the vehicle identification number and contact details for the Council.

5. Interior lighting

There shall be maintained in the vehicle adequate internal lighting to enable passengers to enter and leave the vehicle with safety.

6. Convictions

An annual basic DBS disclosure certificate is required for each proprietor/partner/director of a licensed vehicle, unless they are already a licensed driver, subject to bi-annual DBS enhanced disclosure checks.

The proprietor shall within seven days disclose to the Council in writing details of any convictions and/or caution imposed on them or, if the proprietor is a company or partnership, on any of the directors or partners during the period of the licence.

7. Change of address

The proprietor shall notify the Council in writing of any change of his address that appears on the licence during the period of the licence within seven days of such change taking place.

8. Identification plate

The plate, loaned by the Council, identifying the vehicle as a private hire vehicle and required to be exhibited on the vehicle pursuant of Section 48(6) of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 shall unless exempted in writing be securely fixed to the rear of the vehicle in a conspicuous position duly approved by the Council and in such manner using the fixings supplied by the Council so as to be easily removable by an Authorised Officer of the Council or a Constable.

9. Signs, notices etc.

No signs, notices, advertisements, video or audio display, plates, marks, numbers, letters, figures, symbols, emblems or devices whatsoever shall be displayed on, in or from the vehicle except as may be required by any statutory provision or  required or  permitted  by these conditions, provided however, that this condition shall not apply to any indication on a taxi meter fitted to the vehicle.

The proprietor shall unless exempted in writing cause to be affixed and maintained in or on the vehicle in a conspicuous position in accordance with the directions of the Council any roundel, sign or notice relating to private hire vehicles, which the Council may from time to time require.

Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the proprietor shall unless exempted in writing cause to be affixed and maintained on the outside of the vehicle:

• a door sign of such design and appearance as may be approved and supplied by the Council to be located on the nearside and offside front doors of the vehicle
• a front identification sign as may be approved and supplied by the Council

Note: The use of magnetised signs is only permitted when the vehicle has been exempted in writing from the general requirement to display the roundel or sign in i) above but the proprietor wishes to display such signs on occasional basis.

Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing condition any advertisement shall not be allowed or affixed without the prior approval of the Council and specifically shall not:

• be affixed to any window of the vehicle; and
• be affixed to any door or panel on which the door sign referred to in paragraph 9 3) i) of these conditions, is located

The proprietor or such person in charge of the vehicle when requested to do so by an Authorised Officer of the Council shall return to them, any identification plate, sign, door sign, badge, emblem or device.

If any proprietor or such person in charge of the vehicle fails without reasonable excuse to comply, an Authorised Officer of the Council shall be entitled to remove and retain any identification plate, sign, door sign, badge, emblem or device.

There may be displayed within the vehicle for the information of passengers a table of fares in a form and printing previously submitted to and approved by the Council.

The proprietor shall notify the Council of the loss or theft of any identification plate, door sign, sign, or notice relating to the private hire vehicle as soon as the loss becomes known and in any case within two working days.

10.  Deposit of drivers licence

If the proprietor permits or employs any other person to drive the vehicle as a private hire vehicle, he shall before that person commences to drive the vehicle cause the driver to deliver their private hire driver licence record card for retention until such time as the driver ceases to be permitted or employed to drive the vehicle or any other vehicle of his.

11.  Transfer of interest

The proprietor shall notify the Council in writing online, giving the name and address of the new proprietor, within 14 days if he transfers his interest in the vehicle to another person.

12.  Accident notification

The proprietor shall notify the Council as soon as practicable, or in any case within 72 hours of any accident which results in damage to the vehicle. The Council's online 'Notification of Accident' form must be completed for each notification.

13.  Insurance

The vehicle shall have a current valid Policy of insurance at all times appropriate to the use authorised by this licence. If the vehicle is off the road and uninsured at any time, the proprietor must inform the Council in writing as soon as practicable but in any event with 72 hours.

14.  Change of engine

The proprietor must notify the Council, in writing, within 7 days if the vehicle engine is changed. Such notification shall include details of the new engine number.

15.  Change of private hire operator

This vehicle may only be operated under the provisions of one private hire operator licence at any moment in time and the proprietor shall notify the Council of any change to the licensed operator during the period of this licence within 72 hours.

16.  Letting/leasing of vehicles

The proprietor shall not let or hire the vehicle identified in this licence to any other person, other than a fare paying passenger, without first notifying the Council in writing. Note: the proprietor will still be jointly responsible for the vehicle should a leasing arrangement be entered into.

Additional conditions to be applied to novelty vehicles and stretched limousines

1. vehicles must not carry front seat passengers
2. all passengers must remain seated at all times and must wear seat belts and any other safety restraint when the vehicle is in motion
3. where passengers in the vehicle consist of any persons under the age of 14 years they must be accompanied by a responsible adult, other than the driver, who must be over the age of 18 years
4. no more than eight passengers may be carried in the vehicle
5. if all the occupants of the vehicle, save for the driver and responsible adult, are under the age of 18, then there shall be no alcohol at all in the vehicle for consumption or otherwise
6. advertisements will not be allowed on the vehicle's windows
7. the operator of a novelty vehicle fitted with side facing seats shall provide a declaration that they will never be used to carry passengers under 16 years of age regardless of whether the vehicle is fitted with or without seatbelts