Taxi Licensing Information

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Hackney Carriage (Taxis)

All Hackney Carriages and Private Hire vehicles licensed with this Authority must be well maintained.
All vehicles are given annual inspections to ensure that they are mechanically sound and roadworthy.

Applicants must submit an application form and present the following documents:

• Vehicle Registration Document
• Current Certificate of Insurance (Specifically for the 'Carriage of Passengers' or for Hire and Reward) - 6 monthly
• Current MOT - 6 monthly
• Appropriate licence fee (increased annually) - yearly

If all is in order then the vehicle may be licensed as a Hackney Carriage.  A Licence plate is issued which must be affixed to the rear of the vehicle on the outside.
Not all vehicles are thought to be suitable for use as Hackney Carriages and you should obtain the permission of the Licensing Department before purchasing a vehicle.

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Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver's Licences

Hastings Borough Council issue a combined licence, this entitles the recipient to drive Hackney Carriages and Private Hire Vehicles.
Wherever there appears in the Licence Conditions/Explanatory Guides a summary of any statutory provision you are advised that such summary is not exhaustive.
The information set out below is to inform applicants of the Council's policy which will be taken into account when each individual application is considered.  The applicant should understand that it is not the Councils policy to normally grant licences for hackney carriage or private hire drivers who do not comply with these requirements.

Applications for a licence to act as a driver of a Hackney Carriage or Private Hire Vehicle within the Borough of Hastings must be made on forms obtainable from this office.  When submitting an application you are required to declare ALL convictions or cautions you may have, no convictions are regarded as 'spent' under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 for Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Drivers [see Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions)(Amendment) Order 2002].
The information you give will be treated in confidence and will only be taken into account in relation to your application.  A Council is authorised under the legislation to require a Criminal Records Bureau ENHANCED check for all applicants.  You are therefore required to provide A CRB ENHANCED form and support this information with any relevant documentation if necessary.

The disclosure of a criminal record or other information will not debar you from gaining a licence unless the authority considers that the conviction renders you unsuitable.  In making this decision the authority will consider the nature of the offence, how long ago and what age you were when it was committed and any other factors that may be relevant.  Any applicant refused a licence on the ground that he/she is not a fit and proper person to hold such a licence has the right of appeal to a Magistrates Court.  If you would like to discuss what effect a conviction might have on your application you may contact the Licensing Officer in confidence, for advice.

• An applicant must be 21 years or over and have held a driving licence authorising him to drive a motor car (not Provisional Licence) granted under Part III of the Road Traffic Act 1972 for at least twelve months prior to the date of application without break.
  (Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, Section 51)
• Before a licence is granted the applicant must submit to the Council (Section 57):
1. A completed application form.
2. A completed CRB Enhanced form.
3. Driving licence. (Showing your current address)
4. 2 coloured passport size photographs
5. A satisfactory medical certificate from a doctor in the form provided when submitting his first application (Section 57) and on subsequent applications at 5 yearly intervals, until the age of 45, thence at 3 yearly intervals until the age of 60, thence annually, and at any reasonable time at the request of the Hastings Borough Council (any cost incurred to be met by the applicant).
6. The appropriate fee.
7. All new applicants must pass the Council's 'Knowledge of the Borough' test
• Licences are granted for 12 months or such period as Hastings Borough Council may decide (Section 53)
• The identification badge issued must be worn on the person in such a position and manner as to be plainly and distinctly visible at all times (Section 54).
• The driver shall not, whilst driving or in charge of a private hire vehicle:
1. offer that vehicle for immediate hire while the driver is on a road or other place to which the public have access, or
2. accept an offer for the immediate hire of that vehicle whilst the driver or that vehicle is on a road or other place to which the public have access except where such offer is first communicated to him by telephone or by radio to the vehicle (LAC). (In this Condition 'road' means any highway and any other road to which the public have access and includes bridges over which a road passes).
• The Council has power to attach conditions to private hire driver's licences (Section 51). The standard conditions approved at present are listed below and successful applicants should study the conditions and ensure that they comply with them at all times.
• The Council has power to revoke, suspend, or refuse to renew licences after conviction for various offences, or for failure to comply with the relevant provisions of the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 or Part II of the 1976 Act, or for any other reasonable cause (Section 61).
• If an applicant has:
1. during the previous three years been convicted of endorsable motoring offences where the current penalty points exceed six or has any current endorsement under the following categories:
• manslaughter or culpable homicide whilst driving a vehicle
• causing death my reckless driving
• driving or attempting to drive with alcohol level above limit
• driving or attempting to drive whilst unfit through drink or drugs
• driving or attempting to drive then failing to supply a specimen for analysis
• motor racing on the highway; or,
2. been convicted of a criminal offence
3. been convicted of any motoring offence resulting in disqualification under Section 35 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988.

the application will normally be referred to the appropriate Committee of the Council for them to consider the applicants suitability to hold a hackney carriage / private hire vehicle drivers licence.

• The following categories of person shall be required to pass a practical driving test:
  1. all new applicants for a hackney carriage /private hire vehicle drivers licence; and,
  2. any other applicant or holder of a hackney carriage / private hire vehicle drivers licence at the discretion of the Council.
  3. Persons holding the DSA Taxi Test Qualification will not be required to undertake a driving test.

You should return the forms in person with the required supporting documents to the Licensing Office.

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Private Hire Operator's Licence

A Private Hire Operators Licence is required in order to be able to accept bookings for Private Hire Vehicles.
If you are a vehicle proprietor you may work for any existing Operator.

However, if you wish to apply for your own licence to operate from premises which will be used as a booking office, you need to obtain planning permission from the Council's Planning Department allowing use of the building.

A Certificate of Public Liability Insurance is required where the public have access to the premises i.e. waiting room etc.

Private Hire Vehicle proprietors who obtain 'school contracts' are also required to hold an Operators Licence.

You should also bring the following items:

• Certificate of Public Liability Insurance
• Copy of Planning permission
• Correct Fee

Applications will not be accepted without production of the above.

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Private Hire Vehicle

All Private Hire vehicles licensed with this Authority must be well maintained.

All vehicles are given annual inspections to ensure that they are mechanically sound and roadworthy.

Applicants must submit an application form and present the following documents:

• Vehicle Registration Document
• Current Certificate of Insurance (Specifically for the 'Carriage of Passengers' or for Hire and Reward)
• MOT
• Appropriate licence fee (increased annually)

If all is in order then the vehicle may be licensed as a private hire vehicle, a licence plate is issued which must be affixed to the rear of the vehicle on the outside.

Not all vehicles are thought to be suitable for use as Private Hire Vehicles and you should obtain the permission of the Licensing Department before purchasing a vehicle.

Private Hire Operators Licence

A Private Hire Operators Licence is required whenever Private Hire Vehicles are used (unless the vehicle forms part of the fleet of an existing licensed private hire operator).  An application form should be submitted with the appropriate fee and for new licences, a letter from the planning department confirming either that the necessary planning permissions have been obtained or are not required.

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