Hackney Carriage & Private Hire
For information on the draft Hackney Carriage and
Private Hire Vehicle Policy 2013, please see consultation documents page.
Hackney Carriage and Private
Hire vehicles
Hackney Carriage and Private Hire
drivers
Private Hire Operators
The Licensing Authority is required by law to issue licences for
hackney carriages and private hire vehicles to ensure that licensed
vehicles are safe and comfortable and their drivers are fit and
proper persons as stated in the Local Government (Miscellaneous
Provisions) Act 1976.
Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicles
A 'Hackney Carriage' is more commonly called a ‘Taxi’. A
Hackney Carriage Vehicle licence is required for any vehicle with 8
passenger seats or less that will ply for hire, be flagged down or
hired at a taxi rank.
Private Hire vehicles are only available by prior booking and
through a Private Hire operator's office. They are not allowed on
'taxi' ranks and cannot be used to ply for hire. Members of the
public cannot flag them down.
Local authorities are able to adopt local pre licensing
requirements and conditions to ensure
that licensed vehicles are safe and comfortable. Conditions
in respect of licensed vehicles also ensure that vehicles are
easily identifiable to members of the public.
A Hackney Carriage in Neath Port Talbot will have the following
characteristics -
- Black in colour
- Have circular white signs fitted to the drivers and
passengers front doors indicating the vehicle licence
number
- Have a green plate fitted to the rear of the vehicle indicating
- Vehicle licence number
- Permitted number of passengers
- Expiry date of the licence
A Private Hire vehicle in Neath Port Talbot will have the
following characteristics -
- White in colour
- Have yellow triangular signs fitted to the drivers and
passengers front doors indicating the vehicle licence number
- Have a blue plate fitted to the rear of the vehicle indicating
- Vehicle licence number
- Permitted number of passengers
- Expiry date of the licence
Conditions, guidance and application
forms
Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers
Every person who drives a hackney carriage or private
hire must hold the appropriate driver
licence. A licensed driver is in a position
of great responsibility, they are entrusted with the safety of
their passengers and will often be working with young children and
vulnerable adults. A licensed driver often creates the first
impression of the County Borough for its visitors.
Licensed drivers have to go through a
rigourous application process to ensure that they are a fit
and proper person. This involves an enhanced criminal
record check, A group 2 medical assessment and an examination
testing an applicants knowledge of taxi law and the local
area.
Licensed drivers wear a photographic identity
badge at all times when they are working. Badges issued by
Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council are white in
colour and display the driver's photograph, their unique driver
number and the expiry date of the badge.
Conditions, guidance
and application forms
Private Hire Operators
A Private Hire Operators Licence is required by anyone who
accepts or invites bookings made for private hire vehicles. A
licensed private hire driver cannot accept fares unless it has
first been booked through a licensed operator. Operators are
required to keep a register or permanent book giving details of
every booking taken, these records may be inspected by the Council
or Police at any time.
All Private Hire vehicles are required to work under the
umbrella of an Operators Licence. If working for a company you must
ensure that the vehicle being used is registered on their Operators
Licence. If working for yourself it is necessary to obtain your own
Operators Licence
Conditions, guidance and application
forms
Page Details
Last Updated: 08.05.2013 at 12:21