Agenda item

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

Meeting of Licensing Committee, Wednesday, 24th March, 2021 5.00 pm (Item 51.)

Minutes:

Members considered the report which proposed the 2.5% rise of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licence fees from April 2021 following the public consultation that received 6 comments as set out in Appendix A and B of the report.

Members discussed the proposed fees and expressed concerns for taxi drivers who had been financially impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. It was advised that the inflationary increase of 2.5% was proposed as the taxi licensing service was required to be self-financing.

Public Sector Equality Duty

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

Resolved: That the proposed fees and charges as set out below be adopted with effect from 1 April 2021.

FEES FOR 2021-2022

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)

Supporting documents: