Taxi licence conditions

If you are granted a licence to operate a taxi (also known as a Hackney carriage) in the Borough you must abide by the following conditions:

Maintenance of vehicle

1. The vehicle and all its fittings and equipment must be kept in an efficient, safe, tidy and clean condition and all relevant statutory requirements shall be fully complied with.

Alteration of vehicles

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

Identification of plate

3. The plate identifying the vehicle as a Hackney Carriage should be securely fixed to the rear of the vehicle in a conspicuous position as specified by the Council and in such manner as to be easily removable by an authorised officer of the Council or a Police Officer.

Safety equipment

4. A suitable fire extinguisher and a first aid kit containing appropriate first aid dressings and appliances should be kept in the vehicle in a place where they can be accessed immediately in an emergency.

Interior markings

5. The owner must ensure that the licence number and number of passengers the vehicle is licensed to carry is displayed in full view of passengers inside the vehicle.

Signs and notices

6. No signs, notices, advertisements, plates, marks, numbers, letters, figures, symbols, emblems or devices whatsoever should be displayed on, in or from the vehicle except as may be required by any statutory provision (including byelaws) or required or permitted by these conditions, provided however that this condition shall not apply to any indication on a taximeter fitted to a vehicle or to a sign which:

6.1 Is displayed in or from the vehicle while it is stationary;

a) contains no words or numbers other than the name and address of an operator of the vehicle or the name under which he/she carries on his/her business and its address and, in either case, the name of a passenger or passengers to be carried in the vehicle; and

b) is displayed in pursuance of a prior arrangement made for the carriage of a passenger or passengers name in the sign; or

c) is a sign which is required to be exhibited whilst carrying schoolchildren under a contract for the hire of the vehicle. Any such sign shall be removed at the termination of the journey.

Notwithstanding the restriction mentioned in 6.1 above, approved commercial advertisements may be displayed on the outside of doors in accordance with the Council's directions. Proprietors may also display their name or business name or telephone number at the rear of the 'TAXI' sign described in 6.2) below.

6.2 The owner must fix on the vehicle a 'TAXI' sign on or above the roof, which can be illuminated;

The vehicle should also display a sign including the words 'FOR HIRE', to indicate that the vehicle is available for hire, either in the window or incorporated with the 'TAXI' sign.

In either case the sign should be capable of being illuminated and then be extinguished when the vehicle is hired or out of service.

Convictions

7. As stated in our Hackney carriage and Private Hire Licensing (Policy regarding the relevance of convictions and other related information) (4.4) Existing holders of driver’s licences are required to notify the council in writing within five working days of receiving a driving licence endorsement, fixed penalty notice, warning, reprimand, police caution, criminal conviction or other criminal proceedings (including their acquittal as part of a criminal case). In addition, licence holders must inform the council within 3 working days of their arrest for any matter (whether subsequently charged or not). To fail to do so, will raise serious questions for the Council as to the honesty of the licence holder and will be taken into account as part of any subsequent renewal applications.

The above conditions are additional to the relevant requirements of the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 and the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, the more important of which are summarised as follows:

8. a) The owner(s) must not employ as a driver any person who does not hold a Hackney Carriage Licence (1847 Act, Section 47).

b) If the taxi owner transfers his/her interest in it to another person he/she must within fourteen days give to the Council written notice of the name and address of the new proprietor (1976 Act, Section 49).

c) The proprietor must present the vehicle for mechanical inspection within such period and at such place as the Council by notice reasonably required (1976 Act, Section 50).

d) The proprietor of the vehicle involved in an accident affecting the safety, performance or appearance of the vehicle or the comfort or convenience of its passengers shall report the accident to the Council as soon as possible and, in any case, within 72 hours. This is in addition to the normal obligation to notify the Police (1976 Act, Section 50).

e) The vehicle licence and insurance certificate must be produced to an authorised officer of the Council on request (1976 Act, Section 50).

f) Authorised officers of the Council (or Police Officers) may carry out "spot checks" and may require further examination of the vehicle (1976 Act, Section 68).

g) A taxi must not be left unattended in any street or place of public resort or entertainment (1847 Act, Section 62).