Agenda item

Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing: Licence Fees from July 2020

Meeting of Licensing Committee, Thursday, 18th June, 2020 3.00 pm (Item 33.)

Minutes:

Members considered the report which set out the proposed fees for a 2.5% inflation rise of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licence Fees and the four responses received from the Trade following the consultation.

In response to questions, Members were advised that in some places the increase was only £3 and Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Borough Councils had both increased their fees which had been carried out earlier in the year. If the Council was able to work at reduced costs this could be mirrored in the fees.

Resolved: That, having taken account of the objections received, as detailed in the table in Appendix A of the report, the proposed fees and charges and associated costs for licences in respect of Hackney Carriage Drivers and vehicles and Private Hire Drivers, vehicles and operators as set out below be adopted with effect from 1 July 2020.

	Existing Fees	New Fees from May 2020
Hackney Carriage Driver Licence
Computerised Knowledge test	£47	£50 * (Higher than inflationary increase as more time spent on knowledge test bookings)
On initial application	£194 (excluding knowledge test fee) for three years	£199 (excluding knowledge test fee) for three years
Disclosure Barring Service search fee	£40 every three years or £13 per year if they sign up to the DBS online service	£40 every three years or £13 per year if they sign up to the DBS online service
Total (including DBS fee and Knowledge test fee)	£281 for three years	£289 for three years
On renewal	£106 for three years	£109 for three years
Disclosure Barring Service search fee	£40 every three years or £13 per year if they sign up to the DBS online service	£40 every three years or £13 per year if they sign up to the DBS online service
Total (including DBS fee)	£146 for three years	£149 for three years
Dual Driver Licence
Computerised Knowledge test	£47	£50 * (Higher than inflationary increase as more time spent on knowledge test bookings)
On initial application	£194 (excluding knowledge test fee) for three years	£199 (excluding knowledge test fee) for three years
Disclosure Barring Service search fee	£40 every three years or £13 per year if they sign up to the DBS online service	£40 every three years or £13 per year if they sign up to the DBS online service
Total (including DBS fee and Knowledge test fee)	£281 for three years	£289 for three years
On renewal	£106 for three years	£109 for three years
Disclosure Barring Service search fee	£40 every three years or £13 per year if they sign up to the DBS online service	£40 every three years or £13 per year if they sign up to the DBS online service
Total (including DBS fee)	£146 for three years	£149 for three years
Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licence	£341 for one year	£350 for one year
Private Hire Operator Licence
On initial application – 5 year licence	£504 for five years	£517 for five years
*On renewal* – 5 year licence	£489 for five years	£501 for five years
On initial application – 3 year licence	£346 for three years	£355 for three years
*On renewal* – 3 year licence	£331 for three years	£339 for three years
On initial application – 1 year licence	£190 for one year	£195 for one year
*On renewal* – 1 year licence	£178 for one year	£182 for one year
Private Hire Driver Licence
Computerised knowledge test	£47	£50
On initial application	£158 (excluding knowledge test fee) for three years	£162 (excluding knowledge test fee) for three years
Disclosure Barring Service search fee	£40 every three years or £13 per year if they sign up to the DBS online service	£40 every three years or £13 per year if they sign up to the DBS online service
Total (including DBS fee and Knowledge test fee)	£240 for three years	£252 for three years
On renewal	£106 for three years	£109 for three years
Disclosure Barring Service search fee	£40 every three years or £13 per year if they sign up to the DBS online service	£40 every three years or £13 per year if they sign up to the DBS online service
Total (including DBS fee)	£146 for three years	£149 for three years
Private Hire Vehicle Licence	£341 for one year	£350 for one year
Additional Costs
Change from Hackney Carriage to Private Hire	£74	£76
Change from Private Hire to Hackney Carriage	£94	£96
Replace vehicle plate	£25	£26
Replace driver badge	£10	£11
Vehicle re-test	£54.85	£56
Vehicle partial re-test	£27.43	£28
Change of ownership of licensed vehicle	£73	£75
Failure to attend in time for the vehicle test (10 minutes prior to the test start time)	£54.85	£56
Failure to attend with correct documentation	£54.85	£56
Copy of existing paper licence	£12	£13
Change of address details for a replacement licence	£12	£13
Change of name for a vehicle or operator licence	£12	£13
Change of name and address for a driver badge	£22	£23
Replacement Vehicles If a licensed vehicle is replaced during the valid licence period then the cost of licensing the replacement vehicle will be £350. However, if the vehicle is replaced within six months of the issue of the licence then the fee will be reduced by £60. If a licensed vehicle is replaced temporarily for up to 2 months because of damage to it then the fee will be £109 to test and licence the replacement vehicle and a further £109 to test and re-licence the original vehicle.

Supporting documents: