Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy review

Overview

We are reviewing our Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy, which took effect 1 April 2023, to ensure it reflects the Decision of 11 July 2024, made by the Council's Executive, to transition to a single hackney carriage zone from 1 April 2025, updated guidance issued by the Department for Transport and operational learning.

The current Policy and supporting Appendices can be viewed on our website. 

We want to implement a Policy which fairly balances the interests of all parties and stakeholders, whilst maintaining appropriately robust standards. The draft Policy sets out the principles the Council proposes to apply when exercising its functions under hackney carriage and private hire legislation.  The draft Policy is supported by 11 Appendices.  We are interested in your views about the Policy and the Appendices.

The draft documents can be viewed via the links below:

Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy
Appendix A – Criminal Convictions and Suitability Policy
Appendix B – Driver Licence Conditions
Appendix C – Private Hire Vehicle Conditions
Appendix D – Hackney Carriage Byelaws
Appendix E – Hackney Carriage Vehicle Conditions
Appendix F – Private Hire Operator Conditions
Appendix G – Penalty Points System
Appendix H – National Taxi Database (NR3S)
Appendix I – Exemptions from Displaying Licence Plates
Appendix J – CCTV in Vehicles
Appendix K - Executive and Special Occasion Vehicles

Summary of the main proposed changes

• Inclusion of Licensing Objectives to help frame and underpin decision-making [Section 4 of the draft Policy]
• Revised Transitional Arrangements regarding commercial advertising on private hire vehicles [Sections 5 and 10 of the draft Policy]
• Revised Driver Licensing Requirements regarding the application lead-in period at renewal stage, updated information regarding proof of entitlement to work in the UK, requirement to notify the Council of certain health conditions, and application requirements where drivers have received DVLA points for speeding offences. [Section 7 of the draft Policy]
• Revised Vehicle Age and Environmental Considerations, Vehicle Specifications (including a revised Exceptional Age Policy) [Section 10 of the draft Policy]
• Proposed changes and clarifications relating to Vehicle Testing Requirements [Section 11 of the draft Policy] which reflects the proposed relaxation in the age of vehicles which may be presented for licensing.
• Clarification of the requirement to notify a change in vehicle ownership [Section 12 of the draft Policy]
• Updated requirements on drivers and private hire operators in respect of carrying assistance dogs and providing mobility assistance to disabled passengers [Section 15 of the draft Policy]
• Explanation of how licence fees are constructed [Section 16 of the draft Policy]
• Summary included of the appeals framework provided in law [Section 18 of the draft Policy]
• Revised hackney carriage byelaws to reflect the proposed removal of zonal byelaws and replace with a single set of byelaws [Appendix D to the draft Policy]
• There are other, more minor, proposed changes to the Appendices which support the draft Policy – these relate to updated requirements in regards to dealing with lost property: removal of the requirements to carry fire extinguishers [Appendices C and E], updates and new inclusions to the Penalty Points System [Appendix G] and updated National Taxi Database information [Appendix H].
• There are other, more minor, proposed changes to the Appendices which support the draft Policy – these relate to updated requirements in regards to dealing with lost property: removal of the requirements to carry fire extinguishers [Appendices C and E], updates and new inclusions to the Penalty Points System [Appendix G] and updated National Taxi Database information [Appendix H].

Related work in support the implementation of the new Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy

Officers are progressing work integral to the administration of the new single hackney carriage zone and separate consultations will be undertaken in relation to the review of the current geographical knowledge test [mentioned at Section 8 of the draft Policy] and the adoption of new Hackney Carriage Byelaws [draft proposed Byelaws included at Appendix D to the draft Policy].

How to have your say

You can have your say on the draft revised policy and/or appendices by completing the online survey link at the bottom of this page.  

The survey is split into sections, referencing the draft policy document and the separate Appendices A to K. You do not have to complete each section of this consultation if you do not want to. Once you have finished the page and click "Continue" you will return to the "Contents" page. Once you have finished all the sections you wish to complete, please ensure you return to the "Content" page and scroll down to select ‘Finish’. 

If you need assistance to complete the online questionnaire, would like a copy of it in another format, or respond via an alternative method our contact details are as follows:

Email: taxilicensing.kbc@northnorthants.gov.uk

This consultation will close at 23.59, 9 December 2024.

For information about how consultation and engagement responses are managed, please see the consultation and engagement privacy notice.