Have your say on changes to our Taxi Licensing Policy.

As part of recent changes by the Department for Transport, the council is required to update its Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy – and we are looking to get your views on the changes.

GIVE US YOUR VIEWS

By feeding back your thoughts, we can bring in these changes and frame them in a way that is more local and helpful to both users and drivers of Hackney Carriages and Private Hire vehicles.

As part of the guidance, we are looking at the following:

• Application requirements – removal of the requirement for driver references
• Medical fitness – requirement of a medical at each renewal regardless of age
• Accessibility – requirement of a hearing loop where partitions are fitted to vehicles.
• Vehicle testing – review of testing facilities to consider allowing vehicles to be tested at external MOT stations.
• Vehicle Safety – driver to carry out and record daily vehicle checks
• Vehicle specifications – review of the use and status of vehicles that have been categorised as write offs
• Vehicle windows – review of the requirements where manufactured tinted glass is fitted
• Vehicle signage – remove the requirement for a trading name to be shown on vehicle door stickers
• CCTV – review the requirement for CCTV in all vehicles.
• Vehicle emissions – review requirements for vehicle emission standards (euro 6 for diesel and euro 4 for petrol)

Deputy Mayor for Doncaster, Glyn Jones, said: “We are encouraging everyone to feedback on the proposed changes so that we can look at how best to implement these new policies. We have a requirement to update our policies based on national changes and so it is important that we consult across Doncaster to hear how we can make these policies as local and safe as possible.

“Your voice really does make an impact so if you do use a local Hackney Carriage or Private Hire vehicle – or if you are a driver – please fill in the consultation and help us to understand what problems you may encounter, problems you already encounter, what solutions have been missed and how we can help to make it safer and better for all.”

You can read more about the changes via the government website or you can take a look at our revised policy for further information. You can also head straight to our consultation page to fill in the consultation and provide your feedback.