Hackney & Private Hire Vehicle Testing & Age Policies
Start date:26August 2015 Closing Date: 19 October 2015
The Council periodicallyundertakes reviews of its policies and wishes to actively encourage feedback to better ensure the safety of the travelling public of Knowsley and nearby areas.
The aimsof all licensing consultations are:
to ensure that no unnecessary or unreasonableburdens are placed on licensees;
All procedures and policies once reviewed are transparent, reasonable, fair, and as easy as possible for licensees and service users to understand and accept.
On this occasion the Council wants to know your views on the current requirements for vehicle testing for (a) Hackney Carriage Vehicles and (b) Private Hire Vehicles.All responses received will be submitted to the Licensing Committee to assist them in making an informed decision on the future policy relating to hackney carriage and private hire vehicle testing frequency and rules in Knowsley.
The future policywill affect relevant businesses, the general public and otherservice users within Knowsley.If you wish to comment on this particular consultation please complete as appropriate. If your comments require further space please add the question number(s) to the supplementary sheet at the end of the questionnaire. When completed please return the whole completed questionnaire, BY NO LATER THAN THE CLOSING DATE OF 19 OCTOBER 2015either by:
email to OR;
in person to any of Knowsley Council’sOne Stop Shops OR;
by post to:
Licensing Consultation Responses
2nd Floor Yorkon Building
Archway Road
Huyton, KnowsleyL36 9FB
*PLEASE MARK ONE BOX (A- K)ONLY PICKING THE MOST APPROPRIATE OPTION FOR YOU
A1 / Pick the ONE main capacity (a-k)in which you are responding?a. / Hackney Carriage Driver / b. / Hackney Carriage Owner
c. / Hackney Carriage Owner/ Driver / d. / Hackney Carriage Radio Circuit
e. / Private Hire Driver / f. / Private Hire Owner
g. / Private Hire Owner/Driver / h. / Private Hire Operator
i. / Knowsley Resident / j. / Service user within Knowsley
k. / Other (please specify)
*PLEASE MARKONE BOX ONLY. PLEASE WRITE LEGIBLY IF YOU GIVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS*
A2 / If you wish to have your submission acknowledged pleaseprovide your email address.
Please acknowledge by email / I do not wish for any acknowledgement
Email:
Section A- Consultation:
Number of Testing Stations and Test Frequencies/ availability
*PLEASE MARK ONE BOX ONLY*
A3 / Currently all vehicles are tested at 12 month intervals until they are five years old after when they are tested every six months. Is FIVE years the right age from which to test every six months?a. / YES / b. / *NO / c. / *UNSURE
*PLEASE MARKONE BOX ONLY*
A4 / If your answer atA3 is “a. YES” please choose which reason you agree with most:a. / 5+ year old vehicles need more frequent checks to maintain a safe standard;
b. / 5+ year old vehicles are often secondhand with hidden past histories;
c. / Hire and reward mileage means that 5+ year old vehicles deteriorate quicker;
d. / Other (please specify)
*PLEASE MARKONE BOX ONLY*
A5 / If your answer at A3 is “b. NO” please state the main reason you think that:a. / Two largernearby Councils only test vehicles six monthly after 8+ years of age.
b. / Modern vehicles are intended to last longer than when the rules were first set down in 1977;
c. / Knowsley’s current policy is too restrictive and puts a undue burden on Knowsley’s trade compared to other nearby licensing areas with greater numbers of vehicles;
d. / Other (please specify)
*PLEASE MARKONE BOX ONLY*
A6 / If your answer at A3 is “c. UNSURE” state any concerns you have:a. / (please specify)
*PLEASE MARKONE BOX ONLY FOR BOTHHACKNEY CARRIAGE AND PRIVATE HIRE CARS*
A7 / Please specify when (in years) you think vehicles should require six monthly tests:a)Hackney Vehicles (WAV’s) / Never / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / Other (specify)
years
b)Private Hire Vehicles / Never / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / Other (specify)
years
*PLEASE MARKONE BOX ONLY*
A8 / Is one Compliance Testing Station enoughto meet current demand for tests?a. / YES / b. / *NO / c. / *UNSURE
*PLEASE MARKONE BOX ONLY*
A9 / If your answer at A8 is “a.YES” please state why you think this:a. / Customers get consistent service with every vehicle being checked to the same standard;
b. / At a Council facility the test is impartial and not run to generate income through repair costs;
c. / Helps to eliminate unfit vehicles before they are allowed to carry the travelling public;
d. / Other (please specify)
*PLEASE MARKONE BOX ONLY*
A10 / If your answer at A8 is “b. NO” please state why you think this:a. / Applicants can only go to the one place and there can be delays in getting a test;
b. / Testing facilities are needed in other parts of Knowsley not just in Huyton;
c. / If we feel one place behaves unreasonably we should have a 2nd/3rd choice;
d. / Other(please specify)
A11 / If your answer at A8is “c. UNSURE” please explain briefly why this is:
(please specify)
*PLEASE MARKONE BOX ONLY*
A12 / Would you like the option of a full MOT AND Compliance pass to be available to you even if there was a small additional cost for providing both documents?a. / YES / b. / *NO / c. / *UNSURE
A13 / If your answer at A12 is “a. YES” please state why you want both documents:
A14 / If your answer at A12 is “b. NO” please state why you do not want both documents:
A15 / If your answer at A13 is “c. UNSURE” please state why this is the case:
(please specify)
A16 / If you wish to make further comments on your answers A3 to A15 above please enter them below listing in the first column the question number the comment relates to:
This next section’s questions will consider the testing rules and matters covered by the Compliance Test regime.
Any facility testing for Compliance tests must only use qualified authorised MOT testers and the test must be at a DVSA approved MOT facility.
Legally all compliance tests throughout England and Wales must be AT MINIMUM to at least the current MOT standard in force on the date of the test, plus each Council’s additional compliance items.
In order to answer this section fully you will need to access both the current testing rules and draft proposals. These documents are freely available for download from the licensing consultations page of
Council Officers have, for discussion purposes, prepared a draft testing requirements document Annex B, designed to replace the existing Annex A. The changes are not exhaustive and your input is requested to improve the final scheme if and when adopted by the Licensing Committee.
Section B- Consultation on Draft Compliance Testing Rules
*PLEASE MARKONE BOX ONLY IN QUESTION B1*
B1 / Do you think that the current rules for testing are generally clear, easy to understand and appropriate so as to best ensure public safety?a. / YES / b. / *NO / c. / *UNSURE
B2 / If your answer at B1 is “a. YES” please give one main example why:
B3 / If your answer at B1 is “b. NO” please give one main example why:
B4 / If your answer at B1 is “c. UNSURE” please state why you are unsure:
(please specify)
The next set of questions will detail some planned specific changes to the rules. Select in each case whether you personally AGREE or DISAGREE with each proposal. The results of each question will be reported to the Licensing Committee to assist their decisions.
No: / Proposal for change / AGREE / DISAGREE
B5 / Due to the changes in motor engine and vehicle design, the minimum engine requirement for non-electric vehicles will be reduced to a nominal 1000cc from the original 1400 cc set in 1977.
B6 / Due to the view “in case of fire get out- stay out” the current test requirement to carry a fire extinguisher should be abolished- Licensees may still carry one but not as a test item.
B7 / Due to health legal liabilities advice re treating injuries the current test requirement to carry a first aid kit should be abolished- Licensees may still carry one but not as a test item.
B8 / The Council will publish a list of approved or previously licensed vehicles on Knowsley MBC’s website to give clear guidance to all persons seeking to licence vehicles for hire and reward.
B9 / All vehicles presented for testing without first being initially inspected by Licensing must have eitherEuropean Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval [ECWTA] or European Community Small Series Type Approval [ECSSTA] and be unmodified, (as will be shown on the Council approved list on the Knowsley Website).
B10 / Vehicles which only have Individual Vehicle Approval [IVA] or other vehicles which have been later modified must first be referred to the Licensing Section for provisional acceptance pending a subsequent Licensing Committee decision.
B11 / All vehicles seeking to be licensed must be fitted with a full size or space saver spare wheel and tyre OR be fitted with manufacturer certified “run flat” tyres on all road wheels.
No: / Proposal for change / AGREE / DISAGREE
B12 / Any Wheelchair accessible vehicles must, when presented for testing, have all necessary equipment and ramps available and in good working order.
B13 / Unless a vehicle is fitted with a manufacturer Vehicle Identification [VIN] plate all exterior glass except for mirrors and obligatory lights must be etched with either the Registration Number OR the Chassis Number OR the VIN number.
B14 / In the absence of clear evidence of category C declaration including copies of the insurance proposal, any vehicle which has been the subject of major damage rectification repairs will not be issued with a Certificate of Compliance. In the absence of such proof no vehicle licence can be granted.
B15 / If any vehicle is found to have had major modifications or engine replacements and that change is not recorded on the Vehicle Registration Document orpreviously notified to the Licensing Section the test will be abandoned and, if the vehicle is already licensed, a “STOP” notice will be issued.
B16 / If a vehicle is found to be in an unroadworthy or dangerous condition at any test then the test will be abandoned and, if already licensed, a “STOP” notice will be issued by the examiner.
B17 / All vehicles requiring a retest must be presented for retest within 7 days of the original test date. Vehicles with mileage in excess of 500 miles since the fail date will require a further full test.
B18 / Use of filler is only acceptable on minor repairs to body panels and not in seams. Any protrusions or irregularities in the panel surface will not be accepted.
B19 / Paintwork should be of a high standard and uniform throughout the vehicle. No dissimilar coloured panels or dissimilar finish on panels will be accepted. Re-sprays to vehicles must be of a high standard and satisfy the vehicle examiner that it will last for the term of the requested licence;
B20 / Hackney Carriage Vehicles must be fitted with a Measuring Instruments Directive (MID) compliant Taximeter before licensing. New or replacement vehicles may be tested without a Taximeter but a licence will not be granted until the vehicle is fitted with a tested and approved MID compliant Taximeter.
B21 / In respect of wheelchair accessible vehicles all door retaining catches, seat belts and wheelchair restraining belts in must be in good working order. Removable wheelchair ramps must be etched with the vehicle Registration Number OR VIN number.
B22 / Hackney Carriage Vehicles must be fitted with an interior illuminated white box approximately 4” x 3” [100mm x 75mm] in size containing the word “CAB” plus the vehicle licence number in black characters. The box must be affixed to the rear side partition window and wired to the ignition so it is illuminated towards the passenger compartment at all times when the vehicle is in motion.
B23 / No person may leave money in any part of the vehicle at a test. Any found will be considered as a dishonest inducement. The test will be abandoned and the tester must immediately report the matter to both Licensing and the Test Centre Manager.
Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey. Any resultant report will carry a table of the baseline responses to this consultation and, for future reference, a summary will also be lodged on the Licensing Consultations page of
USE THIS SHEET IF YOU WISH TO MAKE A FULLER COMMENT ON QUESTIONS B2-B23MAKE SURE YOU CLEARLY INDICATE THE QUESTION(S) THE COMMENT APPLIES TO.*
IN PARTICULAR IF ANY OTHER TEST ITEM IS CONSIDERED BY YOU TO BE UNNECESSARILY RESTRICTIVE COMPARED TO NEARBY AREAS PLEASE LIST BELOW AND SPECIFY EXACTLY WHICH ONE AND WHY YOU THINK THIS
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