From the section: Private hire and hackney carriage driver licence guide
How we decide if your application for a private hire or hackney carriage driver's licence is successful.
If all enquiries are satisfactory and are in line with our current policy, you will be invited to pay (please see our fees and charges) for your licence and to make an appointment to collect your badge, licence and conditions.
You will be given an ID badge that you must wear as prescribed by conditions while working as a hackney carriage or private hire driver. We will also get you to sign a declaration to confirm that you will agree to read and follow your licence conditions.
Licences will be granted for three years unless there are exceptional reasons to grant for a shorter period. These reasons include (but are not limited to):
If you have a criminal history, penalty points on your DVLA licence or there is anything else of concern on your application, or any aspect that does not meet current policy criteria, you will be invited to discuss the matter with either:
This will always be the final stage in the application process, to ensure all relevant issues are being considered.
In all cases, to help the decision maker, you may wish to provide a written personal statement and/or references. In your personal statement you should outline any mitigation for your circumstances and illustrate what you feel makes you fit and proper to hold a licence.
Any personal, family or financial worries cannot be considered as the only matter we are concerned with is whether you are safe and suitable to hold a hackney carriage or private hire driver’s licence.
These are members of the team who will investigate any queries about your application and have the authority to issue warnings and advice regarding certain matters.
You will usually be invited to the office to discuss the matter, and the officer will then follow this up with written confirmation, via email.
This is where the investigating officer will make a referral about your case to a panel of two or more officers. You will be invited to speak with them to put forward any mitigation and answer their questions.
You will be sent a copy of the report in advance.
This is a panel of three to five elected councillors who sit on a regular basis to hear or review application. You will be invited to the meeting to put forward any mitigation and answer their questions.
You will be sent a copy of the report in advance.
Both the officer panel and the licensing sub-committee can grant or refuse your licence. Their decision will be sent to you by email within 14 days of the decision being made.
If your application is refused, an entry will be made on the National Register of Taxi Licence Refusals, Revocations, and Suspensions (NR3S) register.
You have the right to appeal to Magistrates against the refusal of a licence application, and this must be done in writing within 21 days of you being notified of the decision.