Conditions of application

Hackney Carriage Licences

In these conditions ‘The Council’ means the Caerphilly County Borough Council. ‘Authorised Officer’ means any Officer of the Council authorised in writing by the Head of Public Protection.

Before a hackney carriage licence is granted, the applicant(s) must:-

Complete and submit to the Council the appropriate application form.
Pay to the Council, on application, such fee as may be demanded by the Council for the issue of the licence. Where an application is withdrawn the licence fee will be refunded.
Produce for examination by an authorised officer of the Council, proof of ownership of the vehicle, that is a bill of sale, an invoice or a credit agreement in respect of that vehicle, together with the registration document displaying the last or present recorded keeper, or the new keeper’s supplement.
Produce for examination an appropriate insurance certificate/cover note for hackney carriage purposes in accordance with the requirements of Part VI of the Road Traffic Act 1972.
Produce proof or meter ownership, and a certificate from an approved supplier, confirming that the meter has been calibrated in accordance with the Council’s approved table of fares.
A new MOT & satisfactory compliance checklist.
LOLER Certificate – Only required for vehicles fitted with lifting equipment

Applicants are advised that an application will not be accepted without the foregoing documents.

The applicant must then satisfy the Council that the vehicle:

Was first registered, not more than four years before the date of commencement of the licence (ie the date of first licensing to be before the fifth anniversary of the date of first registration). Where the registration details of the vehicle is inconsistent with the date of first registration applicants will be required to provide proof of the date of manufacture. For Wheel Chair Access Vehicles - A Wheelchair accessible vehicle will be defined as a vehicle which allows the wheelchair user to access and remain in their wheelchair when the vehicle is moving. In order to be licensed, such vehicles must be less than 8 years of age from the date of their first registration. Where the registration details of the vehicle are inconsistent with the date of first registration, applicants will be required to provide proof of the date of manufacture.
Applications for vehicle licences in respect of prestige vehicles of exceptional standard (such as Rolls Royce, Bentley, Jaguar, etc) that are more than four (4) years of age at initial application will only be determined by the Licensing Sub Committee following a full inspection by them of the vehicle and subject to any other testing requirements for vehicles
Vehicles of more than ten years of age will be subject to the vehicle compliance testing on application for renewal and after a six month period.
Vehicles subject to twice yearly testing shall be licensed annually, a notice [section 50 Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976] shall be served on the proprietor requiring the vehicle to be presented for test mid-way through the period of the licence, the notice including relevant date shall be set out on the licence. Failure to submit the vehicle for test will trigger a section 60 LG(MP)A1976 notice and the licence would be suspended.
Is not licensed for private hire or hackney carriage purposes by any other Council.
Has a portable fire extinguisher and first aid kit readily available for use and accessible to the driver.
If it is a vehicle presented for licensing for the carriage of more than four passengers, specially constructed for that purpose i.e. London type taxi cab, or structurally constructed or permanently adapted to the satisfaction of the Council’s Approved Examiner and authorised officers, for which an assessment fee may be payable.
Has sufficient seating capacity to carry not more than eight passengers in addition to the driver. If appropriate, sufficient capacity to carry the number of wheelchair passengers applied for. (The seating shall be determined by the number of seats shown on the V5 Logbook (less the driver).
Is fitted with front and rear seat belts to restrain the number of passengers permitted to be carried in the vehicle.
Has reasonable access to the seating area.
Has sufficient accessibility for wheelchairs, if appropriate.
Is right hand drive.
Has four road wheels.
Has all windows provided, offering adequate visibility and where appropriate be provided with a means of opening. Windscreen & Windows’ - ‘To be in a good clean condition and free from damage. All windows must comply with relevant legislation in respect of light transmission. Only original vehicle manufactured tints are permitted on the rear windows.’
Has all windows free of advertising matter except private hire vehicle/taxi company details.
Has sufficient means for communication with the driver.
Has luggage space clean and accessible, if provided.
Has bodywork free of advertising, except private hire vehicle/taxi company details, unless prior approval of the council has been obtained.
Provided with a taxi meter installed only by a supplier approved by the Council, so constructed, attached and maintained, so as to comply with the following requirements, that is to say:-
The taxi meter shall be fitted with a flag or other device bearing the words “FOR HIRE” on each side thereof in plain letters at least two inches in height and the flag or other device shall be capable of being locked in a position in which the words are horizontal and legible.
When the flag or other device is so locked the machinery of the taxi meter shall not be in action and the means of bringing it into action shall be by moving the flag or other device, so that the words are conveniently legible.
When the flag or other device is so locked that the aforesaid words are horizontal and legible, no fare shall be recorded on the face of the taxi meter.
When the machinery of the taxi meter is in action there shall be recorded on the face of the taxi meter in clearly legible figures a fare not exceeding the rate of fare which the proprietor or driver is entitled in pursuance of the byelaw in that behalf.
The word ‘fare’ shall be printed on the face of the taxi meter in plain letters so as clearly to apply to the fare recorded thereon.
Where the taxi meter provided is not fixed with a flag bearing the words “FOR HIRE” the vehicle must be provided with a roof sign so constructed to bear the words “FOR HIRE” in plain letters at least two inches in height and be illuminated and be capable of being so operated that it indicates clearly and conveniently to persons outside the vehicle whether or not the vehicle is for hire. The design of the roof sign to be approved by the Council.
The illuminated roof sign shall be wired to the taxi meter so as to enable it to be extinguished during the carry of a fare for which the meter is in operation.
The taxi meter shall be so placed that all letters and figures on the face thereof are at all times plainly visible to any person being conveyed in the carriage and for that purpose the letters and figures shall be capable of being suitably illuminated during any period of hiring.
The taxi meter and all fittings thereof shall be so affixed to the carriage with seals or other appliances that it shall not be practicable to any person to tamper with them, except by breaking, damaging, or permanently displacing the seals or other appliances.

N.B. Applicants are advised that, in their own interest, they should ensure that the vehicles are suitable and comply with the conditions of application before submitting the vehicle for inspection.

Applicants for renewal of licence are advised that the foregoing does not affect the expiry date of a licence. An application for renewal must be made before the expiry date, the compliance checklist satisfactorily completed and the licence issued before the expiry date. Failure to renew the licence prior to the expiry date without good reason will result in an application being considered as a new grant.

N.B. Where there is any uncertainty as to any item complying with the Council’s conditions of application, it is likely that on application the matter would be referred to the Taxi and General sub-committee for determination.

Private Hire Vehicle Licences

In these conditions ‘The Council’ means the Caerphilly County Borough Council. ‘Authorised Officer’ means any Officer of the Council authorised in writing by the Head of Public Protection.

Before a private hire vehicle licence is granted, the applicant(s) must:-

Complete and submit to the Council the appropriate application form.
Pay to the Council, on application, such fee as may be demanded by the Council for the issue of the licence. Where an application is withdrawn the licence fee will be refunded.
Produce for examination by an authorised officer of the Council, proof of ownership of the vehicle, that is a bill of sale, an invoice or a credit agreement in respect of that vehicle, together with the registration document displaying the last or present recorded keeper, or the new keeper’s supplement.
Produce for examination an appropriate insurance certificate/cover note for private hire purposes in accordance with the requirements of Part VI of the Road Traffic Act 1972.
A new MOT & satisfactory compliance checklist.
LOLER Certificate – Only required for vehicles fitted with lifting equipment

Applicants are advised that an application will not be accepted without the foregoing documents.

The applicant must then satisfy the Council that the vehicle: -

Was first registered, not more than four years before the date of commencement of the licence (ie the date of first licensing to be before the fifth anniversary of the date of first registration). Where the registration details of the vehicle is inconsistent with the date of first registration applicants will be required to provide proof of the date of manufacture. For Wheel Chair Access Vehicles - A Wheelchair accessible vehicle will be defined as a vehicle which allows the wheelchair user to access and remain in their wheelchair when the vehicle is moving. In order to be licensed, such vehicles must be less than 8 years of age from the date of their first registration. Where the registration details of the vehicle are inconsistent with the date of first registration, applicants will be required to provide proof of the date of manufacture.
Applications for vehicle licences in respect of prestige vehicles of exceptional standard (such as Rolls Royce, Bentley, Jaguar, etc) that are more than four (4) years of age at initial application will only be determined by the Licensing Sub Committee following a full inspection by them of the vehicle and subject to any other testing requirements for vehicles. is not licensed for private hire or hackney carriage purposes by any other Council.
Vehicles of more than ten years of age will be subject to the vehicle compliance testing on application for renewal and after a six month period.
Vehicles subject to twice yearly testing shall be licensed annually, a notice [section 50 Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976] shall be served on the proprietor requiring the vehicle to be presented for test mid-way through the period of the licence, the notice including relevant date shall be set out on the licence. Failure to submit the vehicle for test will trigger a section 60 LG(MP)A1976 notice and the licence would be suspended.
Is not licensed for private hire or hackney carriage purposes by any other Council.
Does not resemble the London type taxi cab or otherwise of such design or appearance as to lead any person to believe that the vehicle is a hackney carriage.
Has a portable fire extinguisher and first aid kit readily available for use and accessible to the driver.
If it is a vehicle presented for licensing for the carriage of more than four passengers, either structurally constructed or permanently adapted to the satisfaction of the Council’s Approved Examiner and authorised officers, for which an assessment fee may be payable.
Has sufficient seating capacity to carry not more than eight passengers in addition to the driver. If appropriate, sufficient capacity to carry the number of wheelchair passengers applied for. The seating shall be determined by the number of seats shown on the V5 Logbook (less the driver).
Is fitted with front and rear seat belts to restrain the number of passengers permitted to be carried in the vehicle.
Has reasonable access to the seating area.
Has sufficient accessibility for wheelchairs, if appropriate.
Is right hand drive.
Has four road wheels.
Has all windows provided, offering adequate visibility and where appropriate be provided with a means of opening. Windscreen & Windows’ - ‘To be in a good clean condition and free from damage. All windows must comply with relevant legislation in respect of light transmission. Only original vehicle manufactured tints are permitted on the rear windows.’
Has all windows free of advertising matter except private hire vehicle/taxi company details.
Has sufficient means for communication with the driver.
Has luggage space clean and accessible, if provided.
Has bodywork free of advertising, except private hire vehicle/taxi company details, unless prior approval of the council has been obtained.

N.B. Applicants are advised that, in their own interest, they should ensure that the vehicles are suitable and comply with the conditions of application before submitting the vehicle for inspection.

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