Taxi licences
Hackney carriage and private hire drivers licences
The council has adopted a policy when considering new
applications for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers.
This
policy also deals with issues relating to existing Hackney and
private hire drivers (PDF).
The purpose of this policy is to explain how the council will
carry out its licensing functions in relation to both new and
existing hackney carriage and private hire drivers, and to outline
the council’s criteria and standards and how to make an
application.
Under the provisions of the Local Government (Miscellaneous
Provisions) Act 1976 a Local Authority shall not grant a licence to
drive a hackney carriage or private hire vehicle:
(a) unless they are satisfied that the applicant is a fit and
proper person to hold a drivers licence or;
(b) to any person who has not for at least 12 months been
authorised to drive a motor car, or is not at the date of
application for a driver’s licence so authorised.
Hackney carriage and private hire drivers must
be ‘fit and proper’ persons to hold a licence. The council’s
main consideration when determining applications is the protection
and safety of the public.
Licensed drivers hold a position of
responsibility as they come into regular close contact with adults,
children and vulnerable people. Prior to issuing a licence the
council must be satisfied that an applicant is ’fit and proper’.
Furthermore, existing drivers must act in such a way as to satisfy
the council that they continue to be ’fit and proper’ to hold a
licence.
In determining whether an applicant is ‘fit and proper’ the
council will consider, amongst other things, an applicant’s
criminal and driving records, medical fitness, relevant skills,
knowledge, experience, qualifications, and previous history as a
licence holder (if applicable). A vehicle licence and driver
licence is required for hackney carriages and private hire taxis.
Applications must be made in person at the licensing office.
Vehicle licences
Before a vehicle is licensed it must pass an MOT and garage test
to ensure its safety. This will take place at the council's
appointed garage, who will issue a certificate of compliance.
We will issue licences for taxis when we are satisfied that the
vehicle is suitable and adequately insured to ensure high standards
of safety.
Driver licences
Please contact the Licensing Office for an application form and
fee details or call into the Huyton One Stop Shop and speak to an
advisor.
When you attend the Huyton One Stop Shop to submit your
application form, please remember to bring the following items:
- Original driving licence. If you have a photocard licence you
need to produce both the photocard and the paper counterpart.
- Passport or birth certificate.
- A recent utility bill.
- The licence fee (please ask for details of the current
fee).
All new private hire and hackney carriage drivers wishing to
drive in Knowsley must currently complete a ½ day training course
and street knowledge test, delivered by Council officers, before
they can drive in Knowsley.
On completing the ½ day course, assuming you satisfy the fit and
proper persons test as far as criminal convictions are concerned,
pass the required medical and provide evidence that you have
enrolled on the Level 2 Certificate in “Introduction to the Role of
the Professional Taxi and Private Hire Driver (QCF) then you will
be licensed and allowed to drive. If you contact the
Licensing Team at Huyton One Stop Shop they will arrange for you to
attend the next available ½ day internal training course.
Once you have started to drive you must complete the Level 2
Certificate in “Introduction to the Role of the Professional Taxi
and Private Hire Driver (QCF) within 6 months of being
licensed.
Existing Drivers who have not already undertaken any previous
relevant training have until 5 October 2014 to complete the
course.
The Level 2 Certificate in the ‘Introduction to the Role of the
Professional Taxi and Private Hire Driver’ course can be delivered
by any accredited training provider approved to deliver the course
and detailed in the Councils driver policy, which can be accessed
via the below link, is a list of local training providers who
currently deliver the course.
The required Street Knowledge Test can be delivered by the
training providers detailed in the Councils policy. If however a
driver has completed the required course with a training provider
who is not on the list then the street knowledge test will be
delivered by council officers. Please contact Tel: 0151 443 2300
when you will be booked onto the next available test.
New and existing drivers can also contact Merseylearn which is the
learning arm of Merseytravel, who support learning for workers in
the transport sector on Merseyside. Merseylearn work in partnership
with the licensing authorities, Unionlearn, and the funding bodies
to support the taxi training.
As part of this service, Merseylearn holds details of all the
colleges and learning providers who deliver taxi qualifications in
the area, and aim to provide drivers with the best possible
information. They also run workshops for new drivers which give an
insight into what is required to be a taxi or private hire
driver.
For enquiries about the training itself, details of the
providers or the workshops please contact Tony Norbury on 0151 330
1269 or email tony.norbury@merseytravel.gov.uk
How to apply
Please contact the Licensing Office for an application form and
fee details or call into the Huyton One Stop Shop and speak to an
advisor.
How long does it take to get licensed?
This will depend on how long it takes for the CRB, Certificate
of Good Conduct and DVLA checks take to come back however once
these checks are back and you have satisfied the above criteria
then you will be licensed to drive.
For further information, please contact the licensing section on
0151 443 2300.