Taxi..Hackney/Private Hire Drivers Licence/Badge

[ceejay123]

I have a Taxi drivers licence and I drive a Hackney cab. Our council wants me to pay an extra �50 for a Private Hire badge so I can drive either type of taxi!!!!! They say it's the law and I would like to know if there are any Cabbies out there who drive both/either type of vehicle and how much they had to pay for both badges. I have looked at the law which they referred me to and I think they are wrong or at least mis-reading that particular law for their own, greedy, benefit C J

[sara3]

no idea, but why don't you check it out with the Public Carriage Office?

[Ethel]

What law did they refer you to?

[ceejay123]

Local Government ( Miscellaneous Provisions ) Act 1976 Secion 51
I pasted this into the search engine and Lo' , up the said paragraph popped and in it , if I have interpeted it corrctly, they can "remit" the cost of a "Private Hire" licence/badge if the driver already has a "Hackney" badge!!
But my council charge the full whack for two bages.
They quoted this Act to me and when I replied yesterday with my interpretation they have kept quiet and have not replied yet.
"Ethel" please have a look and see what you think.
TA C J
Some councils only charge for the cost of the plastic badge �10 or so and Glasgow only have the one badge to cover both disciplines.

[cazzz1975]

I know someone who after 35 years as a hackney driver has been sent on a course by the council to learn how to be a taxi driver

he would have to pay for a private hire badge as well, just another money spinner

[ceejay123]

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the Act of 1847, a district council may demand and recover for the grant to any person of a licence to drive a hackney carriage, or a private hire vehicle, as the case may be, such a fee as they consider reasonable with a view to recovering the costs of issue and administration and may remit the whole or part of the fee in respect of a private hire vehicle in any case in which they think it appropriate to do so.


This is the said pargraph and i think I have it right but our council do not see fit to " remit any of the money but want me to pay another �50
C J (fed up)

[Ethel]

CJ.

That law gives the local council the right to charge whatever they like, or waive the charge.

"demand ...such as fee as they deem reasonable"

:(

[ceejay123]

".......remit the whole or part of the fee in respect of a private hire vehicle in any case in which they think it appropriate to do so."


Yes "Ethel" thats my point. It costs them NOWT to issue another piece of plastic but the profiteers at ................. have chosen to to double the fees whilst 25 mile down the road another council charges for admin' only and up in Glasgow they've chosen to waive the fee.


Should I persue this and start a pressure group, see a solicitor, go to the press or just say..............it, sit back and not make any waves.

[loonytunes]

As a former Local Authority Licensing Legal Advisor, I can tell you that they could be acting lawfully or, more likely, unlawfully. A Council is entitled to charge to finance the cost of maintaining its licensing function. It cannot charge sums which are unnecessary for that purpose. Although it is correct that they can insist on a licensing regime for both Hackneys and Private Hire vehicles, as they are covered by different legislation, it is most unusual for a charge to be made and an extra licence to be required for PH if a HC drivers licence is already held. This is because the HC Drivers Licence is traditionally more difficult to get. (Knowledge tests etc). If you have satisfied their requirements as to suitability, health, topographical knowledge in respect of your HC, there is nothing else to pay for in respect of your PH except the extra paperwork which they are insisting on. Start by asking the Council officially how much they have raised from fees to finance the taxi licensing adminsitration function, split between separate sums for HC and PH. Then ask them how much each of these sectors costs to run. HC will invariably be more expensive to run as, for one thing, they have to paint up HC ranks which cannot be used by PH so PH should not be required to pay for them. There are two notable cases where Councils increased fees to raise money and the Courts have decided that they were wrong. In one case, they were told to pay the extra money back. I would be interested to know which Council it is and the outcome of your enquiries.

Incidentally, do you actually drive both types of vehicle or just HC?

[ceejay123]

Many thanks L T for your reply The council is Lancaster and i have sent my last comm' to them as i know that I will only "bang my head" and have told them so.
However I did finish by saying that i will contact EVERY P H and HC firm in the conurbation to tell them what I have been discussing with them vis a vis the fees they charge to issue an extra piece of plastic.
I have suggested that it would be cost effective to issue just ONE badge to cover both discipline as both disciplines are EXACTLY the same!! It is just the vehicle licence that differs and I accept and understand this.
I have the feeling that the head of legal services might not have been aware of this situation, after all L C C will have been charging double since 1976 ish when they conveniently/deliberately confuse vehicle licence and drivers licence.
There is no P M facility on A B and I do not feel safe giving you my email on a public M B such as this but I would be grateful of any help so if you would like to view my comms with them perhaps you could suggest a private way of doing this.
The law gives them the right to charge a reasonable fee but L C C charge an extremely unreasonable fee also an unnecessary fee for the second badge.
They whare one down and in the end people just pay up the extra �50

[ceejay123]

Ware one down!!!