Conditions for Private Hire Operators' Licences

The Operator shall at all times comply with the provisions of Part II of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 and the conditions thereafter provided.

In these conditions

“authorised officer” has the same meaning as in section 80 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.

“the Council” means the Council of the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside.

“the Operator” means a person holding a licence to operative private hire vehicles issued pursuant to section 55 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.

“private hire vehicle” has the same meaning as in section 80 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.

Conditions of Application for Licence

Before a Licence is granted in respect of a private hire operator’s licence the applicant must:

(a) complete and submit to the Council an application and Statutory Declaration in the form prescribed by the Council.

(b) satisfy the Council that the applicant is a fit and proper person to hold such a licence and carry on business of operating a private hire vehicle.

(c) pay to the Council a licence fee.

(d) satisfy the Council of his intention to operate only with vehicles licensed by the Council.

Conditions of Licence

1. Vehicles and Drivers’ Licences

The Operator shall not, within the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside, operate any vehicle as a private hire vehicle –

(a) unless for the vehicle a current private hire licence issued by the Council is in force; or

(b) if the driver does not have a current private hire driving licence issued by the Council.

2. Vehicles

The Operator must know knowingly accept bookings for private hire of any vehicle not currently licensed for such use, unroadworthy (i.e. not covered by a current test certificate), or not properly insured.

3. Number of Passengers

The Operator shall not knowingly convey or permit to be conveyed in a vehicle a greater number of persons exclusive of the driver than the number of persons specified in the licence for the vehicle.

4. Operator’s Premises

The Operator shall obtain any necessary planning permission required for his premises and shall comply with any conditions attached thereto.

5. Radio Equipment

The Operator shall at no time cause or permit any radio equipment to be a source of nuisance, annoyance or interference to any other person.

7. Fare

When the Operator accepts the hiring he shall specify to the hirer the fare or the rate of the fare for the journey to be undertaken and shall immediately enter all the details of the hiring legibly in ink in the form prescribed by Condition 8.

8. Records

(1) The record required to be kept by the Operator under Section 56(2) of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 shall be kept in a suitable book, the pages of which are numbered consecutively and the Operator shall enter or cause to be entered therein, before the commencement of each journey, the following particulars of every booking of a private hire vehicle invited or accepted by him:

(a) The time and date of the booking.

(b) The name and address of the hirer.

(c) How the booking was made (i.e. by telephone, personal call, etc).

(d) The time of pick-up.

(e) The point of pick-up.

(f) The destination.

(g) The registration number or other identification of the vehicle allocated for the booking.

(h) Remarks (including details of any sub-contract).

(2) The Operator shall also keep records of the particulars of all private hire vehicles operated by him, which particulars shall include details of the owners, registration numbers and drivers of such vehicles, together with any radio call sign used.

(3) All records of hiring's kept by the Operator shall be preserved for a period of not less than six months following the date of the last entry.

9. Service to the Public

The Operator shall provide a prompt, efficient and reliable service to members of the public at all reasonable times and for this purpose shall in particular:

(a) Ensure that when a private hire vehicle has been hired to be in attendance at an appointed time and place, the vehicle shall, unless delayed or prevented by sufficient cause, punctually attend at that appointed time and place.

(b) Keep clean, adequately heated, ventilated and lit any premises which the Operator provides and to which the public have access, whether for the purpose of booking or waiting.

(c) Ensure that any waiting area provided by the Operator has adequate seating facilities.

(d) Ensure that any telephone facilities and radio equipment provided are maintained in a sound condition and that any defects are repaired promptly.

10. Receipt for Fare

The Operator shall require the driver of a private hire vehicle to provide a written receipt for the fare paid to any passenger is so requested.

11. Signs

The Operator shall not cause or suffer or permit to be displayed in on or from any vehicle or his premises or to be published in relation to the Operator’s business any sign, notice or advertisement which consists of or includes the words “Taxi”, “Tax” or “Cab” whether in the singular or plural or the words “Mini Cab”, “Public Hire Car”, “For Hire” or any other word or words of similar meaning or appearance whether alone or as part of another word or phase or any other word or words likely to cause a person to believe that any private hire vehicle or vehicles operated by him, is or are a hackney carriage or carriages, provided however that the display on the vehicle, front door panels and front windscreen only, of a sign containing the words “Advance Bookings Only” equal size and prominence as the others, shall not of itself be deemed to be a breach of this condition.

12. Change of Address

The Operator shall notify the Council in writing of any change of his address (including any address from which he operates or otherwise conducts his business as a Operator) during the period of the licence within seven days of such change taking place.

13. Convictions

The Operator shall within seven days disclose to the Council in writing details of any conviction imposed on him (or if the Operator is a company or partnership, on any of the directors or partners) during the period of the licence.

14. Assignment of Licence

The Operator shall not assign or in any way part with the benefit of the Operator’s Licence.