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Private hire and Hackney carriage information and licence conditions Private hire operator licence conditions

The licence is granted, subject to all licensed operators and designated managers complying with the following conditions of Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council and the provisions of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976. 

Failure to comply with any of the conditions or the law may lead to prosecution and revocation or suspension of the licence in relation to Private hire/Hackney carriage vehicles.

1.1

No person licensed under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 shall operate any vehicle in the controlled district of Walsall MBC:

  1. if the vehicle does not have a licence issued under section 48 of the Act, or 
  2. the driver does not hold a licence issued by Walsall MBC to drive that vehicle.
1.2

Any change of home address or home telephone number must be reported to the Licensing Office in writing within 7 days following any such changes.

1.3

The licensee shall ensure that the following details are recorded for every Private Hire booking clearly and legibly into a register, to be approved by the Authority:

  • Name of hirer
  • Time and point of pick up
  • Destination of passengers
  • Private Hire plate number or other identifying code/call sign of the vehicle during the driver's duty period must be clearly recorded in the base record
  • Call sign of the driver carrying out the booking
  • Any fare agreed
1.4

Licensee(s) must ensure that all records are made readily available and surrendered if so required to any Authorised Officer of the Local Authority or Police Officer at any time during operating hours.

1.5

The licence is specific to those persons named on the licence and cannot be transferred or sold to a third party.

1.6

Incoming telephone calls shall not be diverted to a telephone located anywhere other than in the controlled district of Walsall.

1.7

The licensee shall ensure that all conditions of planning permission and radio communication licences are fully complied with in every respect.

1.8

The licensee will ensure that a written record of complaints is kept along with any response or action taken.

1.9

The licence holder shall not advertise in any form anything other than the full trading name specified on the Operator's licence.

1.10

The Licensing Office shall have the right to refuse to register any trading name that is likely to cause confusion to the general public, or is similar to a trading name registered to another licensed operator. The trading name shall not incorporate the words 'taxi', 'hire' or 'cab'.

1.11

The Licensee shall maintain the following records for every vehicle and driver operating via the licensed base:

  • A copy of the current Private Hire Drivers Licence
  • A copy of the current Private Hire Vehicle Licence
  • A copy of a valid Certificate of Insurance
  • A copy of the current MOT Certificate
1.12

The licensee will ensure that all records are kept and be readily available for a minimum period of 6 months.

1.13

It is the responsibility of the licensee to ensure that:

  • Any driver employed holds a current Private Hire Drivers Licence
  • Any driver employed wears the Walsall Private Hire Drivers badge in the prescribed manner
  • Any driver employed conforms to all conditions in every respect
  • They return to the Licensing Office the 'Base Copy' of the Private Hire Drivers Licence within 7 days of a driver ceasing to work via the base
1.14

The licensee shall provide a prompt and efficient service and ensure that:

  • Vehicles are clean inside and out 
  • Drivers are suitably dressed (vests and shorts or torn and dirty garments are not appropriate) 
  • Drivers attend bookings punctually at the appointed time unless delayed by unforeseen circumstances 
  • Any lost property handed in by the driver is either returned to the owner or handed in at the nearest Police Station and advised to the Licensing Office
1.15

Any fixed penalties, cautions or convictions of the licensee (s) must be reported to the Licensing Office in writing within 7 days of the notification of the penalty, caution or conviction.

1.16

The licensed premises must always have in force a policy of Public Liability Insurance - Premise risk only.

1.17

The licensee(s) must ensure that there is a valid Radio Communications Licence held for the operating base at all times (if applicable).

1.18

No licensee may use the words 'taxi', 'cab' or 'hackney carriage' or any combination thereof in any advertising manner or media.

1.19

Any advertising should use only the words licensed private hire.

1.20

If the licensee of a firm operates a hackney carriage vehicle from his/her base for which there is in force at all times a current and valid hackney carriage licence then a nominal proportion of the advertising may include such words.

1.21

If a cheque is tendered that subsequently is not honoured the licence holder will be subject to a supplementary administration charge as detailed on current fees scale and no further cheques will be accepted for a 12 month period.