Due to the current situation with Covid-19 we are unable to hold the Brighton & Hove Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Consultation Forum on the 12th May 2020 and hope to rearrange this meeting later in the year.
We appreciate that this is very difficult time for licence holders and even though we are unable to hold the Taxi forum due to current government guidelines, we would still like to offer the opportunity for any matters that would have been raised at the forum to be brought to our attention via this means. Should there be matters you wish to raise please email us, and we will look into these and get back to you.
In the meantime as some of you may be aware we are trying to be as flexible as possible with regard to licensing drivers and vehicles in these difficult times, however at the same time we need to continue to operate the licensing regime to the best of our capabilities in a way that is fair to all whilst continuing to ensure the safety of the public.
Please see the attached temporary measures that have been put in place for licence applications.
Current update re license applications during the Covid-19 crisis
In relation to any vehicle renewals and vehicles currently not working.
Private Hire Vehicles
The number of private hire vehicle licences are unrestricted, therefore proprietors of these vehicles may delay renewing a licence to a later date provided the vehicle meets the current council policy in relation licencing of private hire vehicles. i.e. Euro 6 for diesel and Euro 4 for petrol and under 10 years old etc. If the vehicle is currently licensed but would not meet the current policy if the proprietor decided not to renew then they must submit an application to renew before the licence expires.
If the vehicle is SORN (Statutory off road notification) and evidence is provided of this then the licence will be delayed until all relevant documents have been provided. For example a licence is due to renew on 1/4/2020 the proprietor submits his application along with the SORN, the application is held until the all documentation has been received and the SORN lifted. A licence will then be issued from that date for 1 year. This may mean that an extra compliance will be required during the period of the licence.
If you are delaying the renewal of your licence or temporarily reduced any insurance cover please email: hco@brighton-hove.gov.uk so that we can update our records.
Hackney Carriage Vehicles
As there is a limit on hackney carriage vehicle licence numbers, proprietors of these vehicles must make application before the expiry of the licence or the plate may be allocated to the next applicant on the Hackney Carriage Waiting List.
However, if the vehicle is SORN (Statutory off road notification), and an application is submitted before the licence expires then we will be able to delay the issue of the licence until all documentation has been received and the SORN lifted.
A licence will then be issued from that date for 1 year. This may mean that an extra compliance will and be required during the period of the licence.
If the vehicle is unlicensed, SORN during this time or reduced insurance in place please email: hco@brighton-hove.gov.uk so that we can update our records.
In all situations if a vehicle has been SORN or the driver has reduced the insurance for Social Domestic Pleasure only, then they MUST not under any circumstances takes members of the public as they may be committing an offence.
Please Note – The fee is payable on application not when the licence is issued.
If you need further information or advice please contact the Hackney Carriage Office by email hco@brighton-hove.gov.uk and we will respond as soon as possible.
Kind Regards
Martin
Brighton and Hove Private Hire Association 