1.2 Applicants for licences must be made on the official application form (PH1).

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1 CORBY BOROUGH COUNCIL PRIVATE HIRE POLICY DOCUMENT 1.0 Private Hire Operators 1.1 Applicants must be over 21 years of age. 1.2 Applicants for licences must be made on the official application form (PH1). 1.3 Licences will be issued for a period of 52 weeks. 1.4 Applications to be determined by the Head of Service (Environmental Quality) except where consideration of antecedent declaration or other circumstances involves the possible refusal, suspension or revocation of a licence, when the matter will be referred to the Licensing & Regulation Committee for hearing and determination. 1.5 The council will not impose a limit on the total number of licences to be issued. 1.6 Operators are to retain a copy of all drivers CBC issued license and to make such licenses available for inspection by an authorised officer. 2.0 Proprietors 2.1 Applicants must be over 18 years of age. 2.2 Applicants for licences must be made on the official application form (PH2). 2.3 In the case of those applicants who are not the holders of operators licences, form (PH2B) must also be completed showing the applicant s antecedents. 3.0 Vehicles 3.1 Age Limit No vehicle shall be licensed that is more than 8 years old from the date of first registration. i. all private hire vehicles must display a notice (in a format approved by the council), attached to the dashboard or some other prominent position at the front of the vehicle so as to be clearly visible to passengers, bearing the plate number and vehicle registration number of the vehicle and the proprietors name. ii. iii. all private hire vehicles and Hackney Carriage vehicles must display a plate (in a format approved by the Council but including the plate number and Corby Borough Council details) fixed to the front bumper or grille so as to be clearly visible and legible at all times. should the plate be (a) stolen, (b) lost or (c) damaged in any way so that any number OR letter thereon is missing or no longer legible, the proprietor must forthwith replace the plate with another licence plate obtained from the council.

2 3.2 All private hire vehicles must display suitable signage affixed to the front Side and off side doors denoting private hire, telephone bookings only. i. all licensed private hire vehicles, which are not attending a pre-booking, shall, park on a side road not a main road, not park in sight of or near any Hackney carriage Stand, pub, shop, restaurant, petrol station or other location that it could be deemed they could get passing custom from, not park in multiples of more than 1 vehicle i.e. not appear to be forming a rank and not cause a noise disturbance to any residents during late hours parking. ii. mobile phones are not allowed to be used, installed, fitted to or carried in any Private Hire Vehicle for the purpose of inviting or accepting bookings for that vehicle. 3.3 Licences will be issued for periods of 26 weeks. 3.4 All vehicles are to pass an inspection test before the licence is issued and subsequently may be inspected in pursuance of Section 68 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act Application is to be made on the official form (PH2) and must be submitted together with a valid insurance certificate (giving adequate cover for passengers) and the vehicle registration number. 3.6 No vehicle permitted to be licensed as a Hackney Carriage under the terms of the councils hackney Carriage Policy Document will be permitted to be licensed solely for private hire use. 3.7 i. No vehicle of less than 1275 c.c. shall be licensed. ii. iii. Licensed vehicles shall be of the four-door type The seating capacity will be determined on the following basis:- a. regardless of type of front seat fitting, only one passenger will be allowed in the front seat. b the rear seat must allow a minimum of 16 inches per passenger (ie 48 inches for three passengers in the rear), to be measured at the narrowest point on the rear seat. iv no other restrictions on the colour, make, or type of saloon shall be imposed. 3.8 Applications to be determined by the Head of Service (Environmental Quality) except in circumstances where possible suspension, refusal or revocation is concerned when the matter will be referred to the Licensing Sub Committee for determination. 3.9 In the case of licence re-issue, the inspections will be timed to fall one week prior to the re-issue date of the licence thereby allowing at least one week for any faults on the vehicle to be rectified. If, upon re-test, the vehicle fails on the date the licence is due for re-issue then the licence plates will be removed from the vehicle and the proprietor will be issued with a formal notice

3 requiring cessation of operation until that vehicle or any replacement vehicle meets test conditions All licensed vehicles are to carry a serviceable spare wheel and suitable serviceable equipment to change a wheel. If a get you home type spare is used it is to be changed as soon as practicable The Head of Service (Environmental Quality) and other Authorised Offices, Police are empowered to make spot checks on the vehicle and any vehicle failing such a test will be subject to a formal notice requiring the resubmission of the vehicle after repair works or rectifications have been carried out. A copy of the notice (Form PH7) will be given to the driver and a copy will be delivered to the business address of the proprietor of the vehicle. Until such time as the Head of Service (Environmental Quality), or other authorised officer, is satisfied that the vehicle is fit for use the vehicle is suspended. 4.0 Private Hire Drivers 4.1 Applicants must be over 21 years of age. 4.2 An applicant must have held a full UK driving licence for at least THREE YEARS. 4.3 Application is to be made on the official form (PH3). 4.4 A medical certificate on the official form is to be submitted on: a. A first application b. The applicant is required to have a medical every five years until attaining the age of 50 years and thereafter every 3 years e.g 53 years, 56 years, 59 years and 62 years c. On the applicant attaining the age of 65 years and thereafter every year. Production of a satisfactory medical certificate or duplicate copy, obtained in respect of a Public Service Vehicle or Heavy Goods Licence, current within 12 months of the date of application, will be accepted in lieu of a medical examination. The Head of Service (Environmental Quality) has been granted delegated authority to refuse, and revoke applications for Private Hire Drivers Licences where the applicant/driver does not meet the requirements of the Council s Medical Standards Policy. 4.5 The following must satisfy the Head of Service (Environmental Quality) or any authorised officer for this purpose, as to their knowledge of Corby Borough Council and the statutory provisions relating to private hire vehicles and must undertake a test for this purpose namely:- a. first applicants b. previous holders of private hire vehicles drivers licences expired two years before or more.

4 4.6 Applicants will be required to declare all spent and unspent convictions on their application form. Applications will be determined by the Head of Service (Environmental Quality) with the exception of: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) Any indecency or sex related offence. Any offence of serious violence ie grievous bodily harm, wounding or assault. Any lesser offence of violence ie criminal damage or use of abusive, insulting words or behaviour likely to cause alarm or distress - under 5 years old. Any offence involving dishonesty - under 10 years old. A driving offence relating to any one or more of the following: i) reckless or dangerous driving - under 10 years old ii) being under the influence of drink or drugs - under 10 years old iii) iv) theft or taking of a vehicle - under 10 years old where the offence(s) lead(s) to disqualification for any length of time - under 5 years old Where the Head of Service (Environmental Quality) has doubt over the suitability of any individual to drive a Private Hire vehicle, for whatever reason, the application will be referred to the Council s Licensing Sub Committee for consideration. The Head of Service (Environmental Quality) has also been granted powers to take the following action(s) against Private Hire drivers with respect to speeding offences in Private Hire Vehicles which do not lead to a period of disqualification: i) First offence - warning letter ii) Second offence - one week suspension in 12 months iii) Third offence - 2 week suspension in 24 months iv) Over three offences - report to Committee in 24 months for consideration 4.7 APPLICANTS ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE RECENT PASSPORT SIZED PHOTOGRAPHS AS PART OF THE LICENSING PROCEDURE. 4.8 Any circumstances affecting the suitability of a holder of a Private Hire Drivers Licence to continue to hold that licence shall be referred to the Licensing Sub Committee for decision regarding revocation, suspension or other action as they deem necessary.

5 The Head of Service (Environmental Quality) has been granted discretionary powers to determine which cases are so serious as to require the Committee s immediate attention. Those cases which do not fall into this category will be dealt with when the licence becomes due for renewal and submitted to the Licensing & Regulation Committee at that time. Before any decision is made by the Committee the licence holder will be afforded an opportunity of making representation to the Committee 4.9 Private Hire Drivers Licences are to be issued for a period of 52 weeks Private Hire Vehicle drivers must carry a guide, hearing or prescribed assistance dog belonging to a passenger free of charge unless the driver holds a valid certificate of exemption which must be exhibited within the vehicle being driven by either fixing it to the windscreen facing outwards or fixing it in a prominent position on the dashboard. Drivers must also ensure that their Private Hire operator is aware of any certificate of exemption held when they are first engaged Private Hire proprietors may declare their vehicle as non smoking so long as that fact is clearly visible to passengers from the outside of the Private Hire Vehicle. 5.0 Accidents and Damage to Vehicles 5.1 The Act provides (Section 50(3) refers) that any accidents or damage sustained to a private hire vehicle which materially affects the safety, performance or appearance of the vehicle must be notified to the Head of Service (Environmental Quality) within 72 hours. Form (HC6) should be used for this purpose by the proprietor. 6.0 Transfer of Vehicle Licences to Another Proprietor 6.1. Where the holder of a vehicle licence intends to transfer ownership of the vehicle to another person, written notice of such transfer must be submitted to the Head of Service (Environmental Quality) at least seven days before the date of transfer, giving the name and address of the new owner. 6.2 Where the transfer is made to a new holder the appropriate fee must be paid at the time of transfer. If this is to an operator licensed, by the Council, no fee is payable. 6.3 On the date of transfer the licence holder must hand in the licence to the Head of Service (Environmental Quality) to facilitate the necessary change of name and address on the licence to that of the new proprietor. 6.4 It must be understood that at the time of renewal of the licence, if the Council consider the new holder to be unsuitable in consequence of his previous criminal behaviour or for any other reasonable cause, it has the right to refuse renewal of that licence. 7.0 Transfer of Licence Plate to Replacement Vehicle Where the existing licensed vehicle is taken out of service the Head of Service (Environmental Quality) has delegated authority to transfer the

6 existing licence by way of endorsement on being satisfied as to the condition of the replacement vehicle on inspection and payment of the appropriate transfer fee. 8.0 Fare Table 8.1 The Council has no powers relating to the charges made for private hire Taxi meters do not have to be provided, but if they are provided they must be tested and passed by the Council before they are used. If a meter is fitted, a table of fares is also to be displayed in a prominent position. 8.3 Section 67 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 provides that when licensed Hackney Carriages are used for private hire purposes the fares charged shall not be greater than as prescribed in the approved Fares Table, and the fares charged shall be calculated from the point in the Borough at which the hirer commences his journey. December 2005