Protecting the public at the forefront of licensing work

Protecting the public is at the forefront as Shropshire Council continues to take action to ensure that customers can benefit from the highest standards in the taxi and private hire vehicle industry. 

The work of the council’s licensing team and Licensing and Safety Sub-Committee includes ensuring that passengers get a fair deal and reach their destination safely.  As part of this they ensure that licence applications undergo thorough checks and review the conduct of taxi – also known as hackney carriage – and private hire drivers. 

The conduct of drivers is considered both at the time of application and also on receiving a complaint. 

Between 1 November 2011 and 31 January 2012 the licensing team issued more than 500 hackney carriage and private hire licences.  The team also revoked 26 hackney carriage licences.  Applicants do have the right of appeal through the courts, and 14 of those 26 cases are currently going through that process. 

Following consideration of cases referred to the Licensing and Safety Sub-Committee, between these dates, it: 

• Revoked three licences
• Issued one written warning
• Issued one written warning and amended the conditions of the licence
• Amended the conditions of the licence in another case
• Agreed that one suspension should continue 

During this time the committee also: 

• Granted 36 and refused 29 drivers’ applications
• Granted 46 and refused 23 hackney carriage licence applications 

Councillor Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for licensing, said:

“We are committed to making sure that people licensed to drive vehicles available for public hire in Shropshire are fit to do so.  It is important for public safety that we thoroughly process, issue and monitor licences. 

“We will support people who want to trade and comply with the legislation to provide a good service, and we will revoke licences if there is a risk to the public.” 

Councillor Peter Adams, chair of the licensing committee, added:

“The safety of passengers is of paramount importance to us.  By ensuring that the conduct of drivers meets the highest standards, people can have confidence in the taxi and private hire vehicle industry in the county.  We are now setting standards for the country in enforcement, and are working closely with other councils in the region, to ensure the safety of the public by making sure drivers keep to the terms of their licence.” 

A driver’s conduct may be reviewed for a number of reasons to ensure they are a ‘fit and proper’ person to hold a licence.  These include traffic offences; physical or mental fitness; and honesty or abuse of their employment. 

To date the licensing team has referred applications and other matters that appear to be against policy to the Licensing and Safety Sub-Committee for decision. 

At Strategic Licensing Committee this week it was agreed that generally all applications in respect of hackney carriage and private hire driver and vehicle licences will now be dealt with by officers under delegated powers as part of work to ensure services are being delivered in the best and most efficient ways possible. 

Council public protection and enforcement teams are also working across the county to check that: 

• Vehicles meet licensing conditions.  This includes safety checks on the condition of vehicles, emergency equipment such as fire extinguishers, and meter checks.
• Drivers are working in the Shropshire area to the extent stated to the licensing committee.
• Private hire drivers are not plying for hire.  It is illegal for a private hire vehicles to carry passengers if the journey has not been pre-booked through a licensed operator. In most cases the vehicle will not be insured during a journey that has not been correctly booked. 

Hackney carriage vehicles do not have to be pre-booked and can be hailed on the street. Private hire vehicles must be pre-booked, and customers should be quoted the exact fare when the booking is made. 

For further information go to shropshire.gov.uk/licences.nsf or contact Shropshire Council’s licensing team on 0345 678 9026.