Private Hire and Hackney Carriages
East Staffordshire Borough Council licence the Private Hire and Hackney Carriage trade.
The Council currently Licence: 180 Private Hire vehicles and 140 Hackney Carriages, 40 Private Hire Operators and 472 drivers.
Although both Private Hire vehicles and Hackney Carriages are licensed to carry passengers, there is one substantial difference in the way vehicles can be made available for hire.
Making a complaint
If you have a complaint about a driver, vehicle or operator, of if you wish to raise a general concern, complete the online form stating as much detail as possible.
Online Complaint Form
Alternatively contact the team directly:
By Telephone: 01283 508576
By email at: enforcement@eaststaffsbc.gov.uk
In writing to: Enforcement Team, The Maltsters, Wetmore Road, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire, DE14 1LS
Private Hire vehicles
Private Hire vehicles must be pre-booked in advance, through a licensed Private Hire Operator and may not use taxi ranks, respond to a flag down in the street, or be offered for immediate hiring.
If you take a journey in a Private Hire vehicle that has not been booked (this is called plying for hire) then there will be no record of your journey and it will be much harder to track the driver and or passenger if a problem occurs. In addition, you will not be covered by the driver’s insurance if the vehicle is involved in an accident.
Hackney Carriages
Hackney Carriages are the only vehicles licensed to ply for hire, which means that they may stand on taxi ranks, respond to a flag down in the street, and are generally available for immediate hiring.
Hackney Carriage vehicles must be fitted with a taximeter which calculates the fare according to time and distance travelled. The meter is compliant with the fare structure agreed by the Council’s Licensing Committee. The current table of tariffs must be displayed in the vehicle.
What do the Council Enforce?
In short, the aim of the Enforcement Team is to ensure the safety of the travelling public; that vehicles are safe and comfortable, that drivers are courteous not only to passengers but to other members of the public, and that licensing rules are obeyed.
To do this the team have regard to the following legislation:
The councils own internal Hackney Carriage and Private Hire licensing Policy and Procedures +
- Town and Police Causes Act 1847
- Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976
- Transport Act 1985
- Crime and Disorder Act 1998
- Environmental Protection Act 1990
- Disability Discrimination Act 1995
- Road Traffic Acts
- Health Act 2006 and Smoke-free Regulations 2006/7.
Our Initiatives
The Enforcement Team have a number of ongoing initiatives targeting a number of issues.
Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Stop and Search operations
Hackney Carriage and Private Hire vehicle Checks
Private Hire Operator Base Checks
Plying for Hire - late night initiatives
Private Hire vehicles
When using a Private Hire vehicle it must be pre-booked through a Private Hire Operator. Failure to book in advance may lead to the driver, the vehicle and the passengers being uninsured.
Private Hire Vehicles cannot be hailed or flagged down under any circumstances.
FAQ’s:
How many passengers will they carry?
Private Hire Vehicles carry a licence plate on the front and rear of the vehicle which states how many passengers the vehicle can carry.
How much will the fare cost?
The Council does not control Private Hire charges. The fares are based on mileage and are calculated by the Operator. You should agree the fare with the Operator when booking the vehicle.
What about Safeguards?
All drivers are licensed by the Local Licensing Authority and have criminal record checks; their vehicles have undergone and passed stringent tests for roadworthiness.
What if I have a complaint?
If you are unfortunate enough to have cause for complaint, you may choose to take up your complaint with the driver or operator directly or alternatively take note of the drivers name and badge number, vehicle plate number and / or vehicle registration number and contact the Enforcement Team by one of the following methods
Report Taxi Complaint
Through our online complaint form
By Telephone: 01283 508576
By email at: enforcement@eaststaffsbc.gov.uk
In writing to: Enforcement Team, The Maltsters, Wetmore Road, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire, DE14 1LS
Hackney Carriage vehicles
Unlike Private Hire vehicles which are required to be booked in advance, Hackney Carriages can be hailed/flagged down in the street and can also be found at taxi ranks.
How many passengers will they carry?
Hackney Carriage vehicles carry a licence plate on the rear of the vehicle which states how many passengers the vehicle can carry.
Will they carry Passengers who use wheelchairs?
It is a requirement for all non-saloon Hackney Carriages to be wheelchair accessible. Therefore the majority of licensed Hackney Carriage vehicles are capable of carrying wheelchair users. Drivers have also completed certificates in the loading and securing of wheelchair passengers. Vehicles are equipped with ramps, clamps/harnesses and seatbelts.
How will the fare be calculated and how do I know how much to pay?
Each Hackney Carriage is fitted with a calibrated meter which can be seen in the cab of the vehicle. A driver must put the meter on for each journey even if you agree a fare in advance. A customer will pay the price stated on the meter at the end of the journey. Prices can be negotiated before the journey commences.
A tariff table is displayed inside the vehicle will give an indication of prices.
What about Safeguards?
All drivers are licensed by the Local Licensing Authority and have Criminal Record checks; their vehicles have undergone and passed stringent tests for roadworthiness
What if I have a complaint?
If you are unfortunate enough to have cause for complaint, you may choose to take up your complaint with the driver or operator directly or alternatively take note of the drivers name and badge number, vehicle plate number and / or vehicle registration number and contact the Enforcement Team by one of the following methods
Report Taxi Complaint
Through our online complaint form
By Telephone: 01283 508576
By email at: enforcement@eaststaffsbc.gov.uk
Our Initiatives
‘Stop and Search’ is an operation conducted jointly between Enforcement Officers, Staffordshire Police and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA). The aim of the operation is to stop and check licensed Private Hire and Hackney Carriage vehicles and conduct a number of road safety checks at a local test centre. Breeches in Council policy are also targeted such as ensuring licences are displayed correctly, door panels and exterior plates are attached and that there are visible no-smoking signs.
During an initiative in December 2010 in total the team stopped 12 vehicles during the evening with two given immediate prohibitions and three delayed, namely for problems with brakes and indicators. However, there were no breaches of the licensing policy so the Enforcement Team did not have to take any further action.
Councillor Robert Hardwick, Deputy Leader for Regulatory Services, said: “This type of joint working is a great way of ensuring that our licensed taxis are safe for our residents to use, especially this time of year, and I am very pleased that none of our vehicles were found to be breaching licensing policy, which shows how committed the borough’s drivers are to providing the best services.”
During the month of September 2011, all Hackney Carriage vehicles were invited to meet the Enforcement Team in order for a number of checks to be made. These checks were in line with Council Policy ensuring that all vehicles displayed door panels, exterior licence plates and roof signs, no smoking signs, meters were displaying the correct tariffs, medical kits and fire extinguishers were carried and that drivers were able to demonstrate a wheelchair being secured with the necessary equipment.
The checks proved successful. Of the few breeches that required Enforcement Action some vehicles were missing equipment to secure the wheelchair and meters were displaying the wrong tariffs. Private Hire vehicles will be invited to similar checks in the near future.
In 2010/2011 all Private Hire Operators were visited at least once to ensure compliance with their conditions. These checks included ensuring the accurate recording of bookings were taken, up to date records for vehicles and drivers were kept, the operator’s license was on display, that bases were clean and maintained for public use and records detailing lost property were kept. Base Checks will be conducted annually to ensure continued compliance.
A Private Hire vehicle must be pre-booked through a Private Hire Operator. Any journeys conducted without a prior booking is referred to as Plying for hire as failure to book in advance may lead to the driver, the vehicle and the passengers being uninsured. The Enforcement Team regularly conduct covert (undercover) late night initiatives to ensure that Private Hire vehicles are not plying for hire. These initiatives are aimed at reducing the potential for uninsured journeys being made.