Public consultation on the Hart District Council hackney carriage tariff.
Hart District Council’s Licensing Committee met on 7 June 2022 to consider a review of hackney carriage tariff following a request from the trade.
Following that meeting and in accordance with the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 Section 65 Hackney Carriage Fares we are giving notice that Hart District Council proposes to vary the table of fares chargeable in the district as follows:
1. Tariff 1 - Day rate will increase to, £3.40 for 4/10th mile (704 yards or 643.7276 Meters Then by 30p for 6/10th mile (1056 yards or 965.6064 Meters) up to 1 mile (£5.20 for mile 1). Then 30p for 1/10th mile (176 yards or 160.9344 Meters) thereafter.
2. Tariff 2 - Night rate and Sundays will increase to, £4.20 for 4/10th mile (704 yards or 643.7276 Meters). Then by 45p for 6/10th mile (1056 yards or 965.6064 Meters) up to 1 mile (£6.90 for mile 1). Then 45p for 1/10th mile (176 yards or 160.9344 Meters) thereafter.
3. Tariff 3 - Christmas and New Year rate will be double that of the Day tariff 1
Any objections to the proposed variations must be submitted in writing to Emma Coles by Friday 1 July by 5pm at the following address: Licence@hart.gov.uk
A copy of the notice is will also be printed in the Hampshire Independent. A copy of this notice is available for public inspection during normal office hours at The Civic Offices, London Road, Basingstoke RG21 4AH, for 14 days from 10 June 2022
If no objections are received, or any such objections are subsequently withdrawn, the revised table of fares shall come into operation from Saturday 2 July 2022 or as soon as the meters can be updated. If objections are received and not withdrawn the matter will be discussed at a Special Licensing Committee meeting.
Hackney Carriage Fare Table (all changes include VAT) effective from 2 July 2022 (to be confirmed)
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Distance
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Tariff 1
Daily between 7am-11pm
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Tariff 2
Daily between 11pm-7am and all bank/public holidays not covered under tariff 3 and Sundays
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Tariff 3
Between 8pm on Christmas Eve to 7am on 27 December and New
Year's Eve from 7pm to 7am on
2 January
|
|
Flag fare
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£3.40
|
£4.20
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£6.80
|
|
Mile 1
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£5.20
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£6.90
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£10.40
|
|
Mile 2
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£8.20
|
£11.40
|
£16.40
|
|
Mile 3
|
£11.20
|
£15.90
|
£22.40
|
|
Mile 4
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£14.20
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£20.40
|
£28.40
|
|
Mile 5
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£17.20
|
£24.90
|
£34.40
|
|
Mile 6
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£20.20
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£29.40
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£40.40
|
|
Mile 7
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£23.20
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£33.90
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£46.40
|
|
Mile 8
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£26.20
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£38.40
|
£52.40
|
|
Mile 9
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£29.20
|
£42.90
|
£58.40
|
|
Mile 10
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£32.20
|
£47.40
|
£64.40
|
Extra Charges
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For each additional passenger in excess of 4 (four)
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£1.25
|
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Any fouling to the interior of the cab making it unfit for further hiring (at the discretion of the driver)
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Up to a maximum of £100
|
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Waiting time - For each period of 45 seconds or uncompleted part thereof (Tariff 1/Tariff 2/Tariff 3)
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30p / 45p /60p
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Booking Fee - For any hiring made by telephone or other prior arrangement
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£1.25
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Any complaints concerning the driver or vehicle must be made in writing to the Licensing Team, Civic Offices, London Road, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG21 4AH or by email to licence@hart.gov.uk. The Licensing Team can be contacted by telephone on 01252 622122.
The meter can only be switched on when you enter the hackney carriage
We are responsible for the licensing of the following within the District of Hart:
Private Hire Operators
Private Hire Drivers
Private Hire Vehicles
Hackney Carriage Vehicles
Hackney Carriage Drivers
If you wish to work in the Hart District as a hackney carriage driver or private hire driver or operator you will need to obtain a licence from us.
Licences
Our Taxi licence policy sets out how we carry out the licensing and control of the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire trade within our district and the our expectations of applicants and licensees.
Hart District Council Taxi Policy
Hart District Council and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council Policy Implementation Plan
Further information for Hackney carriage drivers is supplied in our Hackney Carriage Byelaws document.
Becoming a driver
Before becoming a taxi driver - whether private hire or hackney carriage please ensure that you have read our policy and applied for any necessary licences.
The following document sets out the legal requirements for becoming a Hackney carriage or private hire driver within Hart District Council. The document describes the different types of licences required, and the application process.
How to become a Taxi Driver
Safeguarding Information and Training
Fees
Our licence fees are listed in the 2022/23 All Fees and Charges document on our Council Finances webpage and can be paid online.
Hackney Carriage vehicle licence
All Hackney carriage vehicles or taxis as they are often referred to require a licence. They may ply for hire, be flagged down or hired at a taxi rank. These vehicles have a roof sign and display a yellow plate on the rear of the vehicle and a smaller internal plate on the windscreen. Hackney carriage drivers must also wear an ID badge issued by the Council, which includes his/her photograph.
Private Hire vehicle licence
Private hire vehicles also require a licence and must display a blue plate on the rear and a smaller internal plate on the windscreen. Roof signs are permitted but must not use the words 'cab' or 'taxi'. Private Hire drivers must also wear an ID badge issued by the Council, which includes his/her photograph.
Private hire vehicles must only operate on a pre-booked basis. They may not ply for hire in the street or wait for customers at a taxi rank. Journeys must be pre-booked, normally by phone or in person at a private hire operators office.
Private Hire operator licence
All private hire vehicles and drivers must be booked through a licensed private hire operator. They will usually operate from a business address or may operate a small number of vehicles from their domestic address.
Conditions are included on the licence in respect of record keeping and other matters. The licensed operator may only operate vehicles and drivers licensed by the same Authority who issues the operator licence.
Bookings made may be sub contracted to other licensed operators. However, the operator receiving the initial booking remains responsible for that booking and ensuring that any sub contracted bookings are undertaken using only a licensed operator and licensed vehicles and drivers.
Licence exemption
The Council can allow some vehicles to be exempt from the requirement to display the licence plate on licensed vehicles.
Our Exempt Vehicle Policy sets out our approach to granting exemptions from displaying the licence plate, which should be read before making an application for an exemption.
Any vehicle granted an exemption will be restricted to the type of private hire service and vehicles outlined in the revised policy. No other private hire work will be permitted in exempt vehicles.
Taxi fares
A list of our current fares for Hackney carriages is below:
Taxi Tariff for hackney carriage vehicles
The council does not regulate fares for private hire vehicles. The cost of a journey will normally be based on a rate per mile. It is recommended that fares are agreed at the time of booking and recorded.
MOT certificates
Our primary purpose is to promote and ensure public safety. For this reason we will only licence vehicles that have passed an MOT and garage test.
There are some changes to MOT tests because of coronavirus (COVID-19). How this affects you depends on when your MOT is due to expire. For more information please see guidance from GOV.UK.
Refusing journey requests
Hackney carriages
Hackney carriage drivers can only refuse a hiring for a journey within the district if they have a reasonable excuse (section 53 Town Police Clauses Act 1847). A taxi driver can also legitimately refuse to take any hiring which would be for a destination outside the district.
Private hire
Private hire operators don't have to provide a vehicle for anybody, but a refusal cannot be based on a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010 (section 4 - age; disability; gender reassignment; marriage and civil partnership; pregnancy and maternity; race; religion or belief; sex; sexual orientation). Once bookings are accepted, a contract is in place to provide a vehicle and driver for that hiring.
Wheelchair accessible vehicles
You must confirm you are aware of your tax responsibilities when you apply for a taxi driver, private hire driver, private hire vehicle operator or scrap metal dealer licence for the first time.
From 4 April 2022, the rules are changing if you’re applying for a licence for a:
taxi driver
private hire driver
private hire vehicle operator
scrap metal site
scrap metal collector
If you’re an individual, company or any type of partnership you must confirm you are aware of your tax responsibilities if you’re applying for a licence:
for the first time
you have already held but that has not been valid for a year or more
For further information on confirming your awareness please read the HMRC guidance.
You should follow the complete a tax check guidance if you:
already have a licence of the same type that is still valid
have a licence of the same type that ceased to be valid less than a year ago
Actions that drivers, operators and owners of taxis or private hire vehicles can take to continue to protect against Coronavirus
Updated Government guidance has been produced in response to the Omicron variant. The Council recommends drivers of licensed vehicles continue to operate cautiously to protect themselves and customers, and to limit the spread of the virus. Please remember, wherever possible, to maintain social distancing, personal hygiene and vehicle cleanliness. Passengers must wear face masks unless they are exempt or have a reasonable excuse.
Advice for the public when taking a taxi
In light of the Omicron Covid variant, the Department for Transport has produced a useful poster to remind members of the public to take extra care when using a taxi or a private hire vehicle.
Courier fraud
There has been an increase in the use of courier fraud in Hampshire and the police have released a courier fraud leaflet for your information. If you have any concerns about a suspect fare you have been given, please contact the police on 101 or 999 in an emergency
Taxi trade newsletters
The Licensing Team produces newsletters for the taxi and private hire trade. The aim is to keep licensees informed about latest news and advice. It will also update you on changes to legislation and other matters or issues relevant to their licences.
Newsletter - Spring 2022
Newsletter - Summer 2021
Newsletter - Autumn 2020
The Licensing Team frequently consults on taxi and private hire matters. As these matters directly affect the licensed trade, we strongly encourage you to read consultation exercises and any proposed changes. You can provide your views or any feedback to consultation exercises in writing. You can do this by email to licence@hart.gov.uk or by post to the Civic Offices within consultation periods. Your views can then be considered as part of our review into these areas.
If you would like any taxi and private hire related topics to be featured in future newsletters please email us.
How to contact Licensing:
Email: licence@hart.gov.uk
Phone: 01252 622122
Post: Shared Licensing Service, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, Civic Offices, London Road, Basingstoke, RG21 4AH
