Consultations

Harborough District Council is undertaking a consultation on the Draft Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy 2024.

The Policy will supersede current policies for the areas of the Harborough District and sets out the driver, vehicle, and operator standards for Hackney Carriages and private hire licensing for current licence holders and all new licence applicants. This consultation specifically focuses on increasing standards and therefore improving public safety.

Key details that the draft policy focuses on include:

• Change in vehicle specifications. 
• Introduction of daily vehicle check list.
• “Advanced Bookings Only” signage on private hire vehicles.
• 25% discount on vehicle licence fees for hybrid/electric and wheelchair accessible vehicles.
• Medicals can only be undertaken by doctors who have full access to the applicants medical records.
• Licenced drivers must subscribe to the DBS update service.
• HMRC tax check codes.
• The use of the National Register of Revocations and Refusals register (NR3). 

Pre-engagement work has been undertaken with local licenced drivers and operators and relevant partner agencies.

Please see the Hackney Carriage, Private Hire Driver & Vehicle Policy (Proposed) May 2024 for full detail.

This consultation is carried out under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 and considers the recommendation contained within the Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Standards published by Government in 2020. 

How can I submit my comments?

We welcome comments from private hire and hackney carriage license holders, anyone applying for a license, residents, businesses, the Parish Council, and partner organisations.

You can submit your comments by:

• Taking the online survey. 
• Downloading the Consultation feedback and submitting a response via:
  • Email: licensing@harborough.gov.uk, or
  • Writing to: The Licensing Team, Harborough District Council, The Symington Building, Adam & Eve Street, Market Harborough, LE16 7AG.

Please ensure that there is sufficient time to guarantee delivery to our office by the closing date for comments)

For further information, if you have difficulties accessing the survey, or would like a copy of the survey in another format please contact us using the detail above.

The consultation commences on 6 May 2024 and will close at 11:59 on 29 July 2024.

What Happens Next?

Following the 12 week consultation period, responses will be considered and presented along to the Head of Regulatory Services, in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Regulatory Committee to consider any consultation responses received before the policy is adopted and comes into force.