Taxis and Minicabs
Ryedale District Council recognises the valuable service
provided to the public by Hackney Carriage and Private Hire
drivers.
By following the links below you can find out what is the
difference between a Hackney Carriage and Private Hire
licence, where taxi ranks are located in Ryedale and recent changes
to legislation regarding private hire vehicles.
For more information to help you make your decision about what
licence application you may consider, an information leaflet and
the Council's Code of Conduct for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire
drivers is available to download below in the
"Useful
Documents" section.
Taxi Drivers - Formal Procedure to Raise
Issues and Receive Feedback
If you are a Taxi Driver and have any issues that concern you,
the Council has a formal procedure to allow you to record
these issues with us and to ensure that you
receive feedback from us about any planned actions.
This is intended to help us to prioritise our workload
and ensure that we have enough resources for the tasks that your
issues may raise, together with providing you with information on
the service you can expect from us.
The
Issues
Form is available to download from this page.
Hackney carriages or taxis as they are better
known, undertake the same type of work as private hire vehicles
but there are fundamental differences in the way they are
able to work.
Hackney carriages are permitted to stand
on taxi ranks waiting for customers, they can also pick up in the
street after being waved down. Neither of these two activities can
be undertaken by private hire vehicles.
All hackney carriages are fitted with a
meter which will, upon arriving at the destination, give the cost
of the journey. The scale of charges are set by the council
following public consultation. The table of fares showing the
charges must be displayed in the vehicle. The driver must not
charge more than the amount shown on the meter. Journeys may also
be booked and at that time a quote may be given for the cost of the
journey which if accepted must be honoured by the driver.
Vehicles are tested annually and on passing
the test they will be licensed to carry a maximum number of
passengers, the number permitted to be carried will be shown on the
plate attached to the rear of the vehicle. Drivers must be
licensed by the Council.
For more information on Hackney Carriage licences click here or please
follow the navigation links to the left.
We also offer a Dual Driver Licence for those people who would
like to have the opportunity to drive as both a Hackney Carriage
driver and to work for a Private Hire operator. For more
information and to download a copy of the licence application form,
please follow the above link.
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top]
Private Hire Vehicles
Private hire vehicles unlike taxis can not
stand on taxi ranks neither can they be waved down or hired in the
street. All journeys must be prebooked by contacting the vehicles
operating centre and the cost of the journey has been quoted and
accepted at the time of booking. The vehicle insurance is
invalidated if the journey is not prebooked.
Vehicles are tested annually and on passing
the test they will be licensed to carry a maximum number of
passengers, the number permitted to be carried will be shown on the
plate attached to the rear of the vehicle.
Each driver, vehicle must be licensed by the
council and companies who employ one or several drivers must have
an Operators licence.
For more information on Private
Hire Drivers licences click here or follow the navigation links
to the left.
For more information on Private
Hire Vehicle licences click here or follow the navigation links
to the left.
For more information on Private Hire Operators licences click here or
follow the navigation links to the left.
We also offer a Dual Driver Licence for those people who would
like to have the opportunity to drive as both a Hackney Carriage
driver and/or to work for a Private Hire operator. For more
information and to download a copy of the licence application form,
please follow the above Private Hire Driver Licence link.
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top]
Taxi ranks
Taxis are an integral part of the transport system and many
residents in the Ryedale area use this service to access everyday
needs. The Council has provided additional taxi ranks in
the five main towns across the District to enable residents and
tourists to access local amenities and attractions.
These additional ranks will give a better service to the
general public and will assist community safety by ensuring that
people are taken home promptly and safely.
The ranks are located to ensure the least amount of
disruption to residents and businesses alike.
The locations of the taxi ranks are:
| Town |
Location |
Time Restricted |
| Helmsley |
Market Place |
18.00 - 06.00 |
| Kirkbymoorside |
Market Place |
18.00 - 06.00 |
| Malton |
Railway Street |
18.00 - 06.00 |
| |
Market Place HSBC Bank |
|
| Pickering |
Eastgate |
|
| |
The Ropery car park |
18.30 - 06.00 |
| |
Market Place |
18.00 - 06.00 |
For further information, or if you have any concerns or
comments, please email the
Taxi Licensing Officer
or telephone on 01653 600666 ext. 474, or in writing
to:
The Taxi Licensing Officer
Streetscene
Ryedale District Council
Showfield Lane
Malton
YO17 6BT
Changes to Private Hire Vehicle
Licensing.
From 28 January 2008, Section 53 of The Road Safety Act 2006
came into force. This repealed Section 75 (1)(B) of The Local
Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, which allowed
certain types of vehicle hire or contract agreement not
covered by the terms and conditions of private hire
licensing.
Under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act
1976, licences are required to operate or drive private hire
vehicles or taxis which can carry eight or less passengers. Section
75 (1)(b) provided an exemption from this requirement, where a
vehicle and driver was provided under an exclusive contract of not
less than seven days.
The repeal has been brought about because of concerns that
Section 75(1)(b) was abused by some drivers, who claimed the
exemption to escape the licensing requirements and to safeguard the
travelling public.
Do these changes affect you?
Businesses and drivers who need to know whether a licence is
needed should consider whether they:
- Make available a vehicle for hire that carries eight or less
passengers with a driver? e.g. school contract transport, airport
transfer services, theatre trips, courtesy cars, chauffer services
and limousines.
- Receive any commercial benefit or advantage (whether as a
payment or in another form) from this?
If the answer to any of the above is yes, they will probably
need driver, vehicle and operator licences and should contact the
Council for more information.
What is a private hire vehicle?
It is a motor vehicle constructed or adapted to seat less than
nine passengers, and which is not a hackney carriage or public
service vehicle provided for hire with the services of a driver for
the purpose of carrying passengers.
Licences are probably not needed where:
- Every passenger pays a separate fare
- The vehicle is an emergency ambulance
- The vehicle is an ambulance operated as part of a formal
Patient Transport Service (not necessarily for the NHS). Vehicles
driven by volunteers or on an ad-hoc basis for profit may still
need licensing.
- Volunteer car drivers only receive expenses within the limits
allowed by HM Revenue and Customs.
- Childminders carry children, unless it is a contractual
requirement that a vehicle is provided as part of looking after a
child.
- Transport is provided for weddings and funerals
What will happen if I fail to be
licensed?
It is a legal requirement to be appropriately licensed and
there are several penalties for not being licensed in the
appropriate manner. Failing to have the appropriate licences in
place can result in criminal prosecution for:
- Failing to hold an operators licence
- Failing to hold a vehicle licence
- Failing to hold a drivers licence
Each offence carries a maximum penalty of £1,000.
What do I do next?
In order to comply with the licensing laws up to three
licences are required.
- An operator’s licence. This is granted for one year and places
various record keeping requirements on licence holders.
- A vehicle licence. This is granted for one year after
completion of a compliance test.
- A driver’s licence. This is granted for one year to a driver
who can prove they are ‘fit and proper’ after satisfactorily
completing a medical examination and enhanced criminal records
bureau check.
If you think you may be affected and require further
information please contact the Taxi Licensing Officer (01653)
600666 ext 474, email the
Taxi Licensing Officer
or write to;
The Taxi Licensing Officer
Streetscene
Ryedale District Council
Showfield Lane
Malton
YO17 6BT.
Useful Documents