GUIDANCE ON APPLYING FOR A NEW LICENCE TO DRIVE A PRIVATE HIRE OR HACKNEY CARRIAGE VEHICLE WITHIN GRAVESHAM BOROUGH

General Requirements

1.In deciding whether to grant an application from an individual to become a hackney carriage or private hire driver the Council consider amongst other things; the applicant’s relevant skills, knowledge, experience, qualifications, medical fitness and criminal record to determine whether they are a ‘fit and proper’ person to hold such a licence. The Council will consider each case on its own merits.

2.An application to become either a Private Hire or Hackney Carriage driver will only be considered from persons over the age of 21 and provided that they have held a full driving licence, issued in accordance with the Road Traffic Act 1972 (as amended) for a period of at least 12 months prior to the application.

3.An applicant who meets the licensing requirements by virtue of an acceptable non-UK driving licence i.e. a licence issued by the E.U. MUST obtain a full UK driving licence within twelve months of the issue of a hackney carriage or private hire drivers’ licence. If this requirement is not met then the drivers licence will automatically be suspended and will not be reinstated until the proper licence has been obtained.

4.The Council will not consider an application for a drivers’ licence from any individual who works more than 30 hours a week in alternative employment.

5.Any foreign national will be required to give details of any residency outside the UK and sign a declaration that they are permitted to work in the UK.

6.A ‘restricted private hire driver’s licence’ will be issued for the purpose of school contracts ONLY.

7.All applicants will be required to complete a form authorising the Council to apply to the DVLA for a driver’s licence history.

8.All applicants will be required to undergo an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Services Check (DBS) at a cost to be paid by the driver. A DBS check is seen as an essential measure in assessing whether or not an applicant is suitable to hold a licence

  • Applicants should be aware that taxi drivers are an occupation that is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This means that applicants for a driver’s licence are required to disclose ALL convictions and police cautions including any that would be regarded as ‘spent’ under the Act
  • Applicants are therefore strongly urged that if they have convictions and/or cautions they should discuss the situation with the Licensing Officer who can offer advice as to whether it would be advisable to proceed with an application for a drivers’ licence.
  • Gravesham Borough Council is an accredited DBSbody; thereforeapplicants can deal with the DBS through the Council.

9.Any applicant who has been resident in the UK for less than three years will be required to submit to the Council a Certificate of Good Conduct obtained from the relevant embassy or consulate which must be properly authenticated, translated and sealed by the embassy or consulate. Any cost must be borne by the applicant.

10.An assessment of an applicant regarding their driving ability to ensure they will be able to transport fare paying passengers safely is considered vitally important. Applicants will therefore be required to undertake a Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency practical driving test and produce evidence that they have been successful in passing the test. The cost of this will borne by the applicant.

11.It will be necessary for applicants to undergo a medical examination to prove they are physically fit to drive. This examination must be carried out by the applicants’ own GP or someone with access to their medical records. A request form for the examination will be supplied by the Council. The cost of this will be borne by the driver.

12. Applicants should note that the DBS check or the Certificate of Good Conduct, the DVSA test and the medical SHOULD NOT be obtained unless and until the applicant has first passed a Driver Knowledge Test which is detailed below.

Driver Knowledge Test

1.The test will consist of the following elements:

Local Geography

This will consist of two parts:

a)Ten questions requiring the shortest route by distance between a pick-up point and a destination. The pass marks required are 6/10 for private hire and 9/10 for hackney carriage.

b)Fifty questions relating to the locations of prominent buildings or places of interest. These could be for example: Schools, Churches, Old Peoples Homes, Day Centres, Public Houses, Clubs, Halls for Hire, Blocks of Flats, Statues, Public Buildings, Historical Places and Buildings The pass marks required are 35/50 for private hire and 45/50 for hackney carriage.

The questions will cover the whole of the area that falls within the boundaries of Gravesham Borough Council which includes rural areas and villages and well as Gravesend and Northfleet.

Applicants are advised to carefully research this part of the Knowledge Test by checking things such as maps, yellow pages, telephone books and the Register of Electors to obtain the information needed. The Register of Electors can be viewed at either the library or the Civic Centre, Windmill Street, Gravesend, Kent DA12 1AU.

Highway Code

There will be ten questions relating to driving skills, road information and etiquette as set out in the Highway Code. The pass mark is 6/10 for both private hire and hackney carriage.

GBC Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy

There will be ten questions relating to applicants knowledge and understanding of the law in respect of hackney carriage and private hire licensing. The questions will also include questions relating to customer care, calculation of change for a given fare and basic conversation. The pass mark is 6/10 for both private hire and hackney carriage.

The Law and Policy conditions are available via the Internet

Should you need a hard copy, please apply to this office and it will be supplied for the fee of £8.

You may also contact the office and make an appointment, to have the conditions explained.

2.To pass the Knowledge Test an applicant must achieve a pass mark in allof the elements.

3.There is a long waiting list to sit the Knowledge Test and applicants should be aware that the period between applying to be put on the waiting list and actually sitting the test is normally at least six months and sometimes longer.

4.Tests are held bi-monthly and will last 1 hour 30 minutes. An applicant must pay a fee to be put on the waiting list, and then pay a subsequent fee to sit the test

5.To be placed on the waiting list costs £51 (non-refundable).

6.To sit the test costs £26 (non-refundable under any circumstance). The fee is payable in advance when notified of the date of the test. An applicant will be invited to sit the test one month before the actual date of the test.

7. If you defer your test date more than four times your details will be removed from the waiting list and you will not be able to reapply for six months.

8.If an applicant is unable to attend the test when notified of the date they should contact the Licensing Office in order that they can be booked in for the next available one.

9.When attending the test you will be required to provide identification with your photograph on, such as your DVLA photo licence or your passport. If this is not provided on the day you will not be able to take the test.

10.All questions are held on a data base and selected at random; therefore no test paper will ever be the same as any other and there are no specimen tests for view or study.

11.Any person found cheating will be disqualified from the test and another application will not be accepted for a period of one year.

12.Tests will be marked within 2-3 weeks and applicants informed of the result. Tests will be marked by the Licensing Officer and verified by the Senior Licensing Officer.

13.The decision of the authorised officers of the Council regarding whether an applicant has passed the Driver Knowledge Test is final and they will not enter into any discussion regarding the result.

14.To be placed on the Driver Knowledge Test waiting list, please complete the enclosed application form and return it, together with the fee of £51 to:

Licensing Section

Gravesham Borough Council

Civic Centre

Windmill Street

Gravesend

Kent

DA12 1AU

15.If you require more information or advice please telephone the Licensing Office on 01474 33 72 52

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