Application For A Private Hire Vehicles Operator - Newport City Council (Page 8 of 10) in pdf

PRIVATE HIRE OPERATORS

Requirements and Obligations

Any person who operates a Private Hire service using Private Hire vehicles must apply to the Council for a

Private Hire Operator’s licence.

An Operator’s licence permits the operator to make provision for the invitation or acceptance of bookings

for a vehicle. A Private Hire operator must ensure that every Private Hire vehicle is driven by a person who

holds a Private Hire driver’s licence.

An application for an Operator’s Licence must be made on the prescribed form, together with the

appropriate fee.

Criminal Record Check Policy

Private Hire operators are not except from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, so standard

disclosures can be required. A basic disclosure from the Disclosure Scotland or a standard disclosure from

the CRB or a certificate of good conduct from the relevant embassy for overseas applicants will be required

for new operators. A Criminal Record Check will be required every 3 years. Operators that hold either a

Hackney Carriage or Private Hire driver’s licence with the Authority will not be required to undertake a CRB

check.

Conditions

The Authority has the power to impose such conditions on an Operator’s licence, as it considers

reasonably necessary.

Where an Operator Licence is applied for and the operator intends to run 10 or more Private Hire vehicles,

the registered office will be inspected by and to the satisfaction of authorised officers of the Licensing

Department, Newport City Council prior to the issue of the licence.

Record Keeping Policy

Sections 56(2) and (3) of the 1976 Act places a duty on a Private Hire Operator to maintain records.

However, it is for the Council to decide what records are required in relation to journeys that are booked.

Operators are required to keep records in respect of all bookings, vehicles and drivers, for a period of one

year as defined in the Private Hire Operator’s Conditions of Licence in Appendix A.

Insurance Policy

It is considered appropriate for the Licensing Authority to check that appropriate public liability insurance

has been taken out for premises that are open to the public.

Before an application for a Private Hire Operator’s Licence is granted, the applicant must take out the

appropriate public liability insurance for the premises from which he/she is to be licensed.

The conditions proposed for a Private Hire Operator’s licence, will require that the Operator produces an

appropriate certificate of motor insurance which covers every Private Hire vehicle they operate.

Licence Duration Policy

This Authority will issue operators licences every 5 years. Operators are persons of trust and, the wider

interests of Public safety.

Applicants for renewal of such licences are required to provide a current basic criminal record check from

the Criminal Records Bureau every third year.

Holders of existing licences will normally be reminded of the need to renew three months before the licence

is due to expiry.

Address from Which an Operator May Operate

Upon grant of an Operator’s Licence, the Authority will specify the address from which the operator may

operate. This will be the premises where the records are kept and at which they may be inspected by

authorised Officers and Constables.

The Operator must notify the Authority in writing of any change of address during the period of the licence

within seven days.

It is the responsibility of the Operator to ensure that appropriate planning consent exists for the use of the

address which is to be used for operating the business. It should be noted that the grant of a Private Hire

Operator’s Licence will not imply that planning consent has been given.

Bases Outside Newport City Council Area

The Authority will not grant an Operator’s Licence to an Operator with an operating base that is located

outside the district of Newport. This is to ensure that proper regulation and enforcement measures can be

taken and is in no way intended to be a restraint on trade.

Application For A Private Hire Vehicles Operator - Newport City Council Page 8

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