Agenda item

Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing: Licence Fees and Charges 2021/2022

Meeting of Licensing Committee, Tuesday, 5th January, 2021 5.00 pm (Item 44.)

Minutes:

Members considered the report which proposed an inflationary increase of 2.5% to Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licence fees from April 2021. If there were adverse comments received the fees would come back to a future meeting of the Committee.

Following questions, it was clarified to Members that the DBS online update service at an annual cost of £13 for drivers would cost less for drivers in the long run as drivers were previously required to pay £40 every three years.

Public Sector Equality Duty

Members noted that consideration had been given to impacts under the Public Sector Equality Duty.

Resolved: That

a) the levels set out below, be approved for consultation with the taxi trade;

Hackney Carriage Driver Licence

	Proposed Cost
Knowledge Test	£51.50 per test
EQUO online test	£66
Fee on initial application	£204 for three years
Total New Licence	£321.50
On Renewal	£112 for three years
Total Renewal Licence	£112 for three years

Dual Driver Licence

	Proposed Cost
Knowledge Test	£51.50 per test
EQUO online test	£66
Fee on initial application	£204 for three years
Total New Licence	£321.50
On Renewal	£112 for three years
Total Renewal Licence	£112 for three years

Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licence

	Proposed Cost
New and Renewal Application	£244 for one year

Private Hire Operator Licence

	Proposed Cost
Initial application for 5 year licence	£530 for five years
Renewal for 5 year licence	£514 for five years
Initial application for 3 year licence	£364 for three years
Renewal for 3 year licence	£348 for three years
Initial application for 1 year licence	£200 for one year
Renewal for 1 year licence	£187 for on year

Private Hire Driver Licence

	Proposed Cost
Knowledge Test	£51.50
EQUO Online Test	£66 per test
Fee on initial application	£204 for three years
Total New Licence	£321.50
On Renewal	£112 for three years
Total Renewal Licence	£112 for three years

Private Hire Vehicle Licence

	Proposed Cost
New and Renewal Application	£244 for one year

Additional Costs

	Proposed Cost
DBS application	£40
DBS administration fee	£50
Change from Hackney Carriage to Private Hire	£78
Change from Private Hire to Hackney Carriage	£99
Replace Vehicle Plate	£26
Replace Driver Badge	£11.50
Vehicle test/re-test/partial re-test to be paid direct to the garage so not set by Sevenoaks District Council
Change of Ownership of licensed vehicle	£77
Copy of existing paper licence	£13.50
Change of address details for a replacement licence	£13.50
Change of name for a vehicle or operator licence	£13.50
Change of name and address for a driver badge	£24
Vehicle exemption certificate	£50
General Admin Fee	£50
Medical fee to be paid directly to GP or other medical practitioner

Replacement Vehicles

If a vehicle licence is surrendered within 6 months of issue, a refund of £60 will be issued.

If a licensed vehicle is replaced temporarily for up to 2 months because of damage to it then the fee will be £95 to licence the replacement vehicle.

Vehicle garage test costs will be taken separately (see fees above)

b) if, following consultation, there are no adverse comments to the proposed fees, that the fees be implemented from 1 April 2021.

Supporting documents: