Private hire operator's licence

Private Hire Operators must comply at all times with these conditions, and with Part II of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.

Conditions of application

Before we will consider an application, you must:

• Complete a Private Hire Operator's Licence application form 
• Satisfy the Council that you are a fit and proper person to hold such a licence and carry on the business of operating a private hire business,
• Pay the licence fee, and
• Satisfy the Council that it is your intention to operate only vehicles licensed by the Council.

Before an application is considered you must:

1. Complete the Council's application form,
2. Satisfy the Council that you are a fit and proper person to hold such a licence and carry on the business of operating a private hire business,
3. Pay the licence fee, and
4. Satisfy the Council that it is your intention to operate only vehicles licensed by the Council.

Condition of Licence

1. Vehicle and drivers' licenses

The operator must not operate any vehicle as a private hire vehicle unless that vehicle has a private hire vehicle licence issued by the council, which is in force.

The driver of any private hire vehicle must hold a current private hire driving licence issued by the Council.

2. Number of passengers

The Operator shall not knowingly convey or permit to be conveyed in a vehicle more people than the licence allows.

3. Standard of service

The Operator shall provide a prompt, efficient and reliable service to members of the public at all reasonable times and shall in particular:

(a) Ensure that when a private hire vehicle has been hired for a particular time and place, the vehicle shall, unless delayed or prevented by the sufficient cause, punctually attend at the appointed time and place,

(b) Any private hire vehicle or hackney carriage provided by the operator will at all times be subject to test and inspection and should it be found that vehicles are not being properly maintained or that any part or fitting is not in good working order may result in a review of the private hire operator’s licence.

(c) Keep clean, adequately heated, ventilated and lit, any premises which the public have access, whether for booking or waiting,

(d) Ensure that any waiting area has adequate seating,

(e) Ensure that any telephone facilities and radio equipment provided are maintained in a sound condition and that any defects are repaired promptly.

4. Operator's premises

The Operator must obtain the necessary planning permission required for the premises and shall comply with any conditions attached.

The Operator must not operate any vehicle under this licence from an address other than that shown on his application form and licence without the prior approval in writing of the Council.

The Operator must not operate any vehicle from any premises unless planning permission is in force for those premises to be used for the purpose of operating private hire vehicles and no vehicle shall be operated otherwise than in accordance with planning permission.

5. Operator's trading name

The Operator must obtain the Council's permission to use additional trading names, other than those shown on the private hire operator's licence by submitting a new application to vary the licence.

6. Display of licence

Where the Operator occupies premises to which the public have access whether for booking or waiting the licence and conditions (or a legible photocopy) must be displayed in such a position to be readily visible.

7. Fare

When the operator accepts a hiring he must specify to the hirer the fare or the rate of fare for the journey and shall immediately enter all the details of the hiring legibly in ink in the manner prescribed in Condition 8.

8. Record Keeping

Private hire operators are required to keep comprehensive records of all booking and journeys undertaken.

The Operator must record the following information for each booking

• the name of the passenger;
• the time of the request;
• the  pick-up point;
• the destination;
• the name of the driver;
• the driver’s licence number
• the vehicle registration number of the vehicle
• the name of any individual that responded to the booking
• the name of any individual that dispatched the vehicle
• the charge made;

The Operator must keep records of the particulars of all private hire driver’s and vehicles operated by him namely the owners, registration numbers, private hire vehicle licence numbers, drivers' call signs used.

All records kept by the Operator must be kept at his place of business for a period of not less than six months following the date of the last entry and shall be produced to any authorised officer.

9. Receipt for fare

The Operator must require the driver of the private hire vehicle to produce a written receipt, for the fare paid to any passenger if so requested.

10. Signs

The Operator must not cause or permit to be displayed in, on or from any vehicle or the premises or to be published in relation to the business any sign, notice or advertisement which consists of or includes the words "taxi" or "cab"  without consent from the Council.

11. Change of address

The Operator must notify the Council of any change of home or business address within seven days by submitting a new application to vary the licence.

12. Insurance

(a) Vehicles

The Operator must ensure that ALL vehicles, including those of which he is not the owner or proprietor, are at all times when in use as a private hire vehicle under his operation properly insured for commercial private hire in addition to such insurance as may be required by the Road Traffic Acts.

(b) Premises

Where the Operator occupies premises to which the public have access, whether for the purpose of booking or waiting, he must insure against occupiers and public liability in a sum not less than £250,000.

13. Notification of Arrest and Release, Charge or Convictions

You must inform the Council within 48 hours of an arrest and release, charge or conviction of any sexual offence, any offence involving dishonesty or violence and any motoring offence. An arrest for any of the offences within this scope will result in a review as to whether the licence holder(s) or directors are fit to continue to hold a licence.

14. Booking and Dispatch Staff

The operator will keep and provide to an authorised officer of the Council when requested:

i. A register of all booking and dispatch staff
ii. A policy on employing ex-offenders
iii. Evidence that they have had sight to a Basic DBS check on all individuals listed in their register and is compatible with their policy on employing ex-offenders
iv. Evidence that the vehicle dispatcher decides which driver to send to a user, a position that could be exploited by those seeking to exploit children and vulnerable adults. It is therefore appropriate that all staff that have contact with private hire vehicle users and the dispatching of vehicles should not present an undue risk to the public or the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults.

15. Outsourcing of Bookings

Operators may outsource booking and dispatch functions but they cannot pass on the obligation to protect children and vulnerable adults. Operators should be required to evidence that comparable protections are applied by the company to which they outsource these functions.

16. Policy of Employing Ex-Offenders

Operators or applicants for a licence are required to provide their policy on employing ex-offenders in roles that would be on the register as above. As with the threshold to obtaining a private hire vehicle operator’s licence, those with a  conviction or offences provided in the annex to this document, other than those relating to driving, may not be suitable to decide who is sent to carry a child or vulnerable adult unaccompanied in a car.

17. Suspension or revocation of licence

The Council may at any time suspend, for such period as it thinks fit, or revoke the licence if the Operator is in breach of any of the conditions or is convicted of any offence which in the opinion of the Council renders him no longer a fit and proper person to hold the licence.

18. Return of licence to the Council

In the event of the Operator being given written notice that the licence has been suspended or revoked he must immediately return the licence to the Council.

19. Variation of conditions

The Council may at any time during the period of the licence or upon renewal vary any condition.

 

• Back to the Taxis homepage