Taxis, private hire vehicles and transport licensing

The warning points scheme covers all holders of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Drivers Licences, proprietors of licensed vehicles and Private Hire Operators.

The scheme has been developed to provide the Licensing (Miscellaneous) Sub-Committee and Licensing Officers with more options when dealing with breaches to licence conditions or when an offence has been committed. Under the legislation, the only options available to the Committee are to issue a warning, suspend or revoke a licence, while officers can either prosecute or refer to the Committee.

The points scheme allows Licensing Officers and Members of the Committee to attach points, thus bridging the gap between a warning and suspension or revocation. These points serve as a warning with a time limit, with a trigger for a review of the licence should 12 or more points be imposed at any one time.

A copy of the warning points scheme is attached as Appendix G to the Taxi Licensing Policy [PDF, 2 MB] and a list of the points that may be attached for each breach or offence is attached as Schedule 1 to Appendix G.

I have received warning points, can I appeal?

If you are issued warning points by a Licensing Officer then you have the right of appeal to the Licensing (Miscellaneous) Sub-Committee. To launch an appeal you should complete a Taxi Licensing Appeal Form [PDF, 55 KB] and return it to the Licensing team.

There is no appeal against the decision of the Licensing (Miscellaneous) Sub-Committee to give you points.

Any person who carries passengers for hire and reward needs to apply for a taxi driver licence to drive licensed vehicles.

As from 25 May 2018 the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and Data Protection Act 2018 came into force, replacing the former Data Protection Act 1998. This has affected how your personal data can be used.  In order to process your application for a disclosure check, you must read and understand the Standard / Enhanced Check Privacy Policy.

When completing your application form you will need to sign to say you have read the policy and understand how the Disclosure Barring Service will process your personal data.  Please note that without this consent your application can not be processed.

You can find the fee for this licence by going to our fee register. Licences are usually issued for a three year period, unless your Right to Work or DVLA licence expires during this time.

We will require scanned copies or photographs of the following to accompany your application:

• minimum of three DBS documents (such as Passport, DVLA Driving Licence and a Council Tax or Utility Bill). Details of all of the documents we can accept are available on the Gov.uk website.
• proof of Right to Work (if not provided with DBS documents). If you do not have a British Passport, a list of other documents we can accept is available on the Gov.uk website.
• a copy of both sides of your DVLA Photocard Driving licence (if not provided with DBS documents).

We will contact you to arrange a remote appointment to verify these documents. The appointments will be conducted via Microsoft Teams or Skype.

All applicants must attend and pass Safeguarding training before a licence will be granted, and again on renewal. There may be occasions when you are required to sit and pass an additional course if we have received information or a complaint about your behaviour.

Our Safeguarding training is now conducted by Adult Education and Community Learning. Further information can be found on the NLCACL Taxi Driver Course information page. Places can be booked by contacting 01724 297146 or emailing nlacl.enquiries@northlincs.gov.uk

Knowledge Tests can be booked by calling 01724 297000. When you call to book, we will ask you which parts of the test you need to sit.

Hackney Carriage Drivers will be required to pass parts A, B and C of the Knowledge Test.

Private Hire Drivers will be required to pass parts C and D of the Knowledge Test.

One attempt of the test is included with your application fee. The re-sit fee is £47 for three additional attempts. Photo ID is required when you attend the Knowledge Test.

The Study Guide  is available here for you to read.

Under the Equality Act 2010, drivers of Hackney carriage and private hire vehicles have a legal obligation to carry passengers and assistance dogs and wheelchair users. When carrying these passengers, drivers cannot charge any more than the metered fare; must allow the assistance dog to remain with the passenger and afford all reasonable assistance. The term “assistance dogs” refer to more than just guide dogs for blind people. It includes:

• Guide dogs for the blind – white harness with yellow fluorescent strips
• Hearing dogs for the deaf – burgundy jacket
• Dogs for the disabled (seven years to adult) – yellow jacket
• Dogs for the disabled (to work with children) – blue harness
• Canine partners (people with physical impairments) – purple jacket
• Support dogs (physical and other impairments) – blue jacket.

Under the Act, it is an offence for any operator or driver to refuse to carry assistance dogs. On conviction for such an offence, drivers can be fined up to £1,000.

Where a driver has an allergy to dogs, the driver must apply for an exemption from carrying assistance dogs.

To apply for an exemption, a driver must fill in an Exemption application form [PDF, 41Kb].

If no exemption has been applied for and subsequently granted, then drivers are still required to carry assistance dogs. Where an application is made to us for an exemption, it must be supported by medical evidence. The driver with the allergy should be under the care of a specialist consultant and will be required to produce reports from their consultant.

The Equality Act 2010 also places duties on drivers when carrying disabled passengers. Drivers must carry the passenger, carry the wheelchair or mobility aids they have, take reasonable steps to ensure they are safe and comfortable, provide mobility assistance and take reasonable steps to help the passenger identify and find the vehicle.

Drivers must also not make, or propose to make, any additional charge for the above.

Mobility assistance includes to enable the passenger to get into or out of the vehicle, and to load the passenger’s luggage, wheelchair, or mobility aids into or out of the vehicle.

Where driver has medical grounds or a physical condition that makes it impossible or unreasonably difficult to perform this mobility assistance, they must apply for an exemption from these duties.

As with assistance dogs, if no exemption has been applied for and subsequently granted, then drivers are still required to provide mobility assistance. These exemptions must be supported by medical evidence.

In July 2020, the Department for Transport (DfT) published a document of National Standards, which sets out guidelines and recommendations to Local Authorities. The document contains a set of expected minimum standards in administering the licensing function and determining applicant fitness and proprietary that Licensing Authorities are expected to follow unless there is a compelling local reason not to.

The standards have been put in place to safeguard and protect children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation; however all passengers will benefit from the recommendations made. A key focus of the changes is also to build confidence in the taxi and private hire industry.

The recommendations are the result of detailed discussions with the trade, regulators and safety campaign groups. The DfT have outlined that they expect these recommendations to be not only implemented by Local Authorities, but also considered rigorously and with an open mind.

North Lincolnshire Council already maintains many of these standards through the Taxi Licensing Policy, adopted guidance and more broadly through internal safeguarding and whistleblowing policies. The document contains several additional standards that would further improve public safety. Where standards differ between the Licensing Policy and the DfT guidance, Licensing will apply the most stringent requirements.

Some of the key changes that Drivers may notice are:

Information Sharing

• Applicants will be required to disclose if they hold, or have previously held, a licence with another Local Authority. The applicant will also be required to disclose if they have had an application for a licence refused, or if a licence was revoked or suspended by another Local Authority. Licensing will continue to communicate with other Local Authorities to request or share information which may be relevant.

DBS Checks

• Drivers will soon be required to have a DBS check every six months. This check will be carried out by the DBS Update Service. As a result, all licensed drivers will be required to evidence continuous registration with the DBS Update Service to enable Licensing to routinely check for new information every six months. Drivers that do not subscribe to the Update Service will still be subject to a check every six months. There is a cost for the update service which is currently £13 per year. Alternatively the cost of a new DBS is currently £40.
• Previous convictions disclosed on applicants’ DBS certificates may be assessed differently following the new guidance. Any offences involving dishonesty, indecency or violence may require a longer rehabilitation period before a licence or renewal will be granted. Grandfather rights do not apply. Further information on how Licensing will assess previous convictions in line with the National Standards can be found in the Assessment of Previous Convictions.[PDF, 590Kb]
• Licensing will inform Humberside Police and the DBS if they receive any relevant information about a Driver, or if they decide to refuse or revoke a licence. This is particularly relevant if the Driver is thought to present a risk of harm to a child or vulnerable adult.

Taxi Driver Warning Points Appeal Form [PDF, 55 KB]

Hackney Carriage Byelaws [PDF, 35 KB]

If you wish to be in charge of or navigate a pleasure boat or vessel for the purpose of carrying passengers for hire, you must obtain the appropriate licence from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) Small Passenger Vessel Code Survey Certificate and the boat must be maintained to these standards.

The council’s Licensing Division issue pleasure boat licences for vessels carrying no more than 12 passengers and which are under 24 metres in length, on voyages that are at no time outside categorised waters (i.e. waters not regarded as ‘sea’).

Please note: pleasure boat operators who wish to go outside categorised waters or carry more than 12 passengers on boats which are over 24 metres in length should contact the Maritime and Coastguard Agency for advice.

Downloadable application form

• Pleasure Boat licence Application form [PDF, 69Kb]

The applicant must:

• have full knowledge of all statutory rules, regulations and byelaws applicable to navigation on all waters for which the licence is required
• hold a current Full Boatman’s Licence
• have insurance to cover the boat, liability to passengers and third parties to a minimum of £2,000,000
• hold a Current Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) Small Passenger Vessel Code Survey Certificate.

Licences are issued yearly and are not transferable nor can they be back dated. The council may suspend or revoke a licence at any time if it feels that this is necessary in the interests of the public.

Timescale

We aim to deal with grant and renewal applications within 70 days for Boatman’s licences and 84 days for Pleasure Boat licences. Tacit consent applies. This means that you will be able to act as though your application is granted/renewed if you have not heard from us by the end of the above application period.

Licensing Act 2003

If alcohol or regulated entertainment is provided on board to passengers then a Premises Licence is required under the above Act. Contact the Licensing Division for further details. It is an offence under s.136 of the above Act, to provide alcohol for sale or supply without the provision of a Premises Licence or Temporary Event Notice in place.

The full boatman’s licence enables the holder to take charge of and navigate boats on the water, including the carriage of passengers for hire.

The restricted licence relates only to the taking charge of boats from the ‘shore’.

To obtain a Full or Restricted Boatman’s Licence, the following requirements must be met:

• have full knowledge of all statutory rules, regulations and byelaws applicable to navigation on all waters for which the licence is required
• hold a current Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) ML5 Medical Certificate completed by their own General Practitioner
• the applicant must not suffer from any disease or physical disability which could affect his or her fitness to operate and be in charge of pleasure boats let for hire
• be over 18 years of age.

Downloadable application forms

• Full Boatman application form [PDF, 68Kb]
• Full Boatman-Restricted Boatman Application form [PDF, 68Kb]

Licences are issued yearly and are not transferable nor can they be back dated. The council may suspend or revoke a licence at any time if it feels that this is necessary in the interests of the public.

Timescale

We aim to deal with grant and renewal applications within 70 days for Boatman’s licences and 84 days for Pleasure Boat licences. Tacit consent applies. This means that you will be able to act as though your application is granted/renewed if you have not heard from us by the end of the above application period.

Licensing Act 2003

If alcohol or regulated entertainment is provided on board to passengers then a Premises Licence is required under the above Act. Contact the Licensing Division for further details. It is an offence under s.136 of the above Act, to provide alcohol for sale or supply without the provision of a Premises Licence or Temporary Event Notice in place.