Revised Hackney Carriage Table of Fares

VARIATION TO ISLE OF WIGHT COUNCIL HACKNEY CARRIAGE TABLE OF FARES
Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 Section 65

The Isle of Wight Council’s Regulatory Committee determined on 10 December 2012 to vary the existing Hackney Carriage Table of Fares.

The amendments to the existing Table of Fares are as follows:
  • Tariff 1 cost per ¼ mile has been increased from 40p to 45p;
  • The waiting amount permitted for tariff 2 reduced from 60p to 40p per minute;
  • The waiting amount permitted for tariff 4 reduced from £1 to 80p per minute.

The above legislation requires Local Authorities to advertise any variations made to the Table of Fares.  If any objections are received that relate to the proposed amendments then the council will consider these and determine whether to proceed or amend and/or delete the proposed changes. 

Anyone wishing to make comments regarding these variations must submit them in writing to the Licensing Section, Jubilee Stores, The Quay, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 2EH or by email to [email protected] by 16:00 hours on 14th January 2013.

A copy of the notice, together with a copy of the table of fares as amended, shall be available at the above council office at all reasonable hours for inspection free of charge until the 14 January 2013. Please note that the office will be shut between the period of 25 December 2012 to 2 January 2013.

Only objections relating to the proposed variations above will be considered. If there are no objections, the variations will come into effect on 28 February 2013.

The revised Table of Fares can be viewed here

The current Table of Fares can be viewed here

Hackney Carriages and Private Hire Licensing
Isle of Wight Council is responsible for licensing hackney carriage (taxis) and private hire operators, private hire vehicles and their drivers in the Isle of Wight area to ensure they meet statutory requirements and operate under the conditions of their licence.
The overriding principle is the safety of the travelling public and we ensure the taxi and private hire trade in the Isle of Wight is operated in a professional manner and that the correct standards of safety and comfort are satisfied by all vehicles, drivers and operators. We are committed to providing a quality transport service within the taxi and private hire trade.
If you require further assistance you are advised to contact the Licensing Team.


Hackney Carriages (Taxis)
The main acts of parliament covering the licensing of hackney carriages are the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 and the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.
Taxis can ply for hire in the street and at taxi ranks. Journeys do not have to be pre-booked.
A taxi licensed by Isle of Wight Council must display a white plate to the rear of the vehicle. This plate displays the licence plate number, expiry date, the registration number of the vehicle and the number of persons the vehicle may lawfully carry.
Fares for taxis are regulated by the Council and the table of fares can be viewed here
Applications and regulation of the licence is covered by the Hackney Carriage Licence Conditions which can be viewed by clicking here
Private Hire Vehicles
The main Act of Parliament covering the licensing of private hire vehicles is the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.
Private hire vehicles cannot ply for hire in the street or at taxi ranks. Journeys must be pre-booked, normally by telephone or in person at a cab office.
It is an offence to take a passenger who is not pre-booked and invalidates the vehicle's insurance cover.
A private hire vehicle licensed by Isle of Wight Council must display a yellow plate to the rear of the vehicle and yellow door stickers on the front doors of the vehicle. The plate displays the number, expiry date, the registration number of the vehicle and the number of persons the vehicle may lawfully carry. The door stickers display the licence plate number, expiry date, the registration number of the vehicle and the number of persons the vehicle may lawfully carry.
Fares for private hire vehicles are not regulated by the Council - the cost of a journey will normally be based on a rate per mile or should be agreed with the company before the journey.
Applications and regulation of the licence is covered by the Private Hire Vehicle Licence Conditions which can be viewed by clicking here
Private Hire Operator's Licence
A private hire operator's licence is required to enable a person to accept or invite bookings for private hire vehicles.
One person can be licensed and employ/sub-contract an unlimited number of licensed vehicles. However, a licensed private hire driver cannot accept any bookings unless he either holds or works for a licensed private hire operator. An operator may pass a booking to another licensed private hire vehicle operator provided that the operator is also licensed by the Council. 
Members of the public have initial contact with the operator and make the contract with them even if the operator does not provide the vehicle and/or the driver. 
Before an operator’s licence is granted the applicant must satisfy the Council that the address from which they intend to operate is suitable and, where applicable, satisfy any conditions that maybe attached to the licence in order not to disturb the ambience of the area.
If you are a vehicle proprietor you may work for any existing Operator. However, if you wish to apply for your own licence to operate from premises which will be used as a booking office, you need to obtain Planning Permission from the Council allowing use of the building.
A Certificate of Public Liability Insurance is required where the public have access to the premises i.e. waiting room etc. However, where no public access or waiting facilities are provided or if you wish to operate your own vehicle from home, this insurance is not necessary.
Applications and regulation of the licence is covered by the Private Hire Operators Licence Conditions which can be viewed by clicking here
Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Drivers
Anyone who acts as driver of any hackney carriage or private hire vehicle must hold a 'hackney carriage/private hire driver's licence. This entitles the licence holder to drive members of the public in a licensed vehicle and ply for hire.

Any person may apply for a hackney carriage driver's licence. However, we are not allowed to grant such a licence:-
  • unless satisfied the applicant is a 'fit and proper person' to hold a driver's licence; or
  • to any person that has not been licensed to drive a motor car for at least 12 months (not being a provisional licence) at the point of application.
The term 'fit and proper person' is a test of the applicants suitability to hold a hackney carriage/private hire driver's licence as regards the applicants fitness and propriety.
Whether an individual is a 'fit and proper person' may involve many considerations such as previous conviction history, medical history, knowledge of the local area. The Council’s convictions policy may be viewed here
To help them decide whether a licence should be granted or whether conditions should be attached to a licence (if granted), licensing authorities may require applicants to submit such information as may reasonably be considered necessary.
Applications and regulation of the licence is covered by the Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Vehicle Licence Conditions which can be viewed by clicking here
Apply for a Licence
Applications can be made on line on the Council’s website
Fees
A fee must be paid at the time an application is made. The fee covers the cost of administration, inspections and enforcement activity.

Public Register

The public register of existing licences/consents/permits/registrations can be viewed on the Council’s website

Further Information

Best Practice Guidance has been issued by the Department for Transport and is available on the website




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Page last updated on: 11/12/2012