Taxis

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

National register of taxi licence refusals and revocations

Why has the register been set up?

NR3 has been developed to improve public safety and confidence in hackney carriage and private hire vehicle (PHV) licensing.
There have been numerous high profile cases where drivers who have been refused licences or had a licence revoked in one area have gone to another area and received a licence in that area by failing to disclose their previous history.
This undermines public safety, if there are legitimate reasons why a licence was refused or revoked, and damages confidence in the hackney carriage/PHV licensing regime and trade.
This is why the initiative has been widely supported by reputable drivers and firms, as it will provide a mechanism for ensuring information about refusals and revocations can be shared between all licensing authorities in a safe and secure way, removing this potential loophole.

How will the register work – what information will be recorded?

When an authority revokes a licence, or refuses an application for one, it will record this information on NR3. The information recorded will be limited to:
· name
· date of birth
· address and contact details
· national insurance number
· driving licence number
· decision taken
· date of decision
· date decision effective
Licensing authorities will then search the register when they are processing new applications or renewals. Where an authority finds a match for their applicant on NR3, it will contact the licensing authority that recorded the entry to seek more information, which, if shared, will then be used to help reach a decision on the application.

Will I automatically be refused a licence if I am on the register?

No. Licensing authorities are legally required to consider each licence application on its own merits, and cannot refuse an application simply because an applicant may be recorded on NR3.
The purpose of NR3 is to ensure that authorities have the full information necessary to help them reach a decision on whether an individual is fit and proper.
If circumstances have materially changed since the decision that has been recorded on NR3, it may be appropriate for another authority to award a licence.

What if my licence is suspended?

Suspensions of licences will not be recorded on NR3.

Can I find out if my details are on the NR3?

Individuals whose details are added to NR3 will be notified of this at the point at which they are advised of the decision to refuse or revoke a licence.
Outside of these times, an individual can make a subject access request (SAR) for any of their personal data held on NR3.
The ‘data controller’ in respect of this data is this licensing authority, to whom a SAR should be submitted in the first instance.
As the ‘data processor’, that is the organisation storing the data, the National Anti-Fraud Network will fulfil this request. Similarly, the exercise of any other rights provided under data protection legislation should be made to this authority in the first instance.

How long will details be held on NR3 for?

Data will be retained on the register to help licensing authorities fulfil their statutory duty to be satisfied that a person is a fit and proper person to hold a hackney carriage or PHV licence.
In accordance with this purpose, data will remain on NR3 for 25 years.

Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Disabled Persons) Act 2022 comes into force

On 28 June 2022, the Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Disabled Persons) Act 2022 (“The 2022 Act”) will take effect in England, Scotland, and Wales. It will amend the Equality Act 2010 to introduce new, and amend existing, duties for local authorities and taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) drivers and operators alike. The 2022 Act aims to ensure that disabled people can use taxi and PHV services with confidence that they will not be discriminated against. The Changes that will effect the trade are detailed below.

Exemptions

Currently, drivers of designated Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles, also known was WAV's may apply for an exemption certificate on medical grounds or where their physical condition makes it impossible or unreasonably difficult to perform the section 165 duties. Exemptions are currently granted from all of the duties at section 165.

As a result of the new Act, from 28 June:

• All taxi and PHV drivers may apply for an exemption certificate and notice on medical grounds or where their physical condition prevents them from performing the mobility assistance duties at sections 164a and 165 (as added/amended by the 2022 Act).
• Both existing and new exemption notices, when displayed correctly, will exempt a driver only from the mobility assistance duties at sections 164a and 165 – meaning, for example, that a driver’s medical condition can no longer be used as a justification for charging a disabled person more than a non-disabled person.

New requirements for drivers and operators

The existing legislation requires drivers of designated wheelchair accessible vehicles to accept the carriage of wheelchair users, provide them with reasonable mobility assistance, and refrain from charging them more than other passengers. From 28 June 2022, all taxi and PHV drivers and operators – regardless of whether the vehicle is wheelchair accessible – will be subject to duties under the Equality Act.

The main changes are set out below. Taxi and PHV drivers will be required to:

• Accept the carriage of any disabled person, provide them with reasonable mobility assistance, and carry their mobility aids, all without charging any more than they would for a non-disabled passenger.
• Provide any disabled passenger who requests it with assistance to identify the vehicle, at no extra charge.

PHV operators will be required to:
• Accept bookings for or on behalf of any disabled person, if they have a suitable vehicle available.

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

The Council has a duty to publish a list of all wheelchair accessible vehicles across the district.

Here you can view a list of wheelchair accessible vehicles and their contact details.

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.

New Covid updates

The Government has issued comprehensive guidance for the taxi and PHV sector on actions that drivers, operators and owners of taxis or private hire vehicles (PHVs) can take to protect against coronavirus. It which covers the following topics:

National restrictions
Drivers
Carrying out a COVID-19 risk assessment - drivers
Picking up passengers
In the vehicle and end of journey - leaving the vehicle
Preparing your vehicle for the next passenger
If you have coronavirus symptoms or have been told to self-isolate
Financial help for drivers• Carrying out a COVID-19 risk assessment - operators and intermediaries
Providing health information to drivers and passengers

Vehicle cleansing

We recommend drivers and operators continue to take sensible and routine precautionary measures such as cleaning surfaces regularly with sanitising wipes or spray to get rid of germs. A clean vehicle is a healthy vehicle. This includes regularly cleansing:

All customer contact points such as door handles (inside and out)
Window switches
Grab handles
Seat facings
Card payment devices (do not spray keypads with any fluids)
Drivers sharing vehicles should clean the steering wheel, door handles, control stalks, gear knob, handbrake and instruments regularly and when their shift ends.

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: hartlicensing@basingstoke.gov.uk

Phone: 01252 622122

Post: Shared Licensing Service, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, Civic Offices, London Road, Basingstoke, RG21 4AH

We are responsible for the licensing of the following within the District of Hart:

Licences

Becoming a driver

National register of taxi licence refusals and revocations

Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Disabled Persons) Act 2022 comes into force