Taxi licensing policy consultation

Consultation on the Review of the Runnymede Borough Council Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy and Guidance

The purpose of this consultation is to ask for your views on the updated Policy, which is substantially reviewed every 5 years. The draft Policy is proposed to be effective from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2030.

The information below will assist you in understanding the proposed revisions and the revised draft Policy document can be viewed on our website.

The consultation period will be 10 weeks - Tuesday 24 September 2024 until Tuesday 3 December 2024.

The key changes to the Policy have been made in line with updated guidance, statutory standards, related Council policies, benchmarking with other Surrey Licensing Authorities and practical experience of administering the licensing regime.  

These broadly include: 

  • A new section summarising general duties within the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and Equality Act 2010
  • A new section concerning Tax Registration requirements introduced in April 2022
  • An updated section regarding the National Register of Taxi License refusals, revocations and suspensions
  • A new section on compliance and enforcement
  • Updates to the driver licensing requirements in respect of work area declarations, certificates of good conduct, medical fitness, language proficiency and holistic assessment of information about drivers when determining any action against them
  • Updates to vehicle licensing including carrying children safely, fire extinguishers and CCTV
  • New emission standards/environmental Policy approach to licensing vehicles in that the Council will only licence hackney carriage and private hire vehicles (new and renewal) which are Ultra Low Emission Vehicles (ULEV) as defined by the Vehicle Certification Agency (i.e. Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel) from 1st January 2030 
  • Updates to Operator licensing in respect of health and safety management, disability awareness training and the location of an Operators office base
  • Clarity around the frequency of fare reviews 
  • Substantial updates to Appendix D relating to the relevance of convictions, cautions and driving licence endorsements in line with national standards
  • Updating the Knowledge test policy
  • Added clarity regarding imported vehicles in Appendix F and G

A more detailed description of each of the main changes, including the part and section number in the Policy document or Appendix, can be viewed on our website.

The Council’s Regulatory Committee will meet again in January 2025 to decide on the matter and your views are a key factor in the decision-making process.

Submit you feedback by email or by post.

  • Email: licensing@runnymede.gov.uk
  • Post or by hand to: Licensing Team
    • Runnymede Borough Council
      Civic Centre
      Station Road
      Addlestone
      KT15 2AH

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