Hackney carriages (taxis) and private hire vehicles (minicabs)

Introduction

Ribble Valley Borough Council has various powers in relation to hackney carriage and private hire vehicles and their drivers and operators.

From this page you can access information on hackney carriages (taxis) and private hire vehicles (minicabs) and find information on these topics from elsewhere on our website.

The following topics are covered below:

• What's the difference between a hackney carriage and a private hire vehicle?;
• the Public Register;
• Hackney carriage (taxi) ranks;
• Hackney carriage (taxi) fares;
• Hackney carriage (taxi) licencing;
• Private hire vehicle (minicab) licencing;
• The infringement scheme and
• Complaints.

What's the difference between a hackney carriage and a private hire vehicle?

Hackney carriages (or "taxis") are public transport vehicles which are licensed to "ply for hire".

They can:

• carry passengers for hire or reward;
• be hailed by prospective passengers in the street; and
• park on a rank to await the approach of passengers.

A hackney carriage must be driven by a driver who holds a hackney carriage driver's licence.

Hackney carriage vehicles can be found at the ranks around Clitheroe and they can be hailed in the street. These vehicles have a roof light with the word TAXI on them. They have a blue plate affixed to the rear and a smaller version affixed to the windscreen which carry details of the expiry date, licence number and vehicle registration.

Private hire vehicles (or minicabs) are similarly public transport vehicles. However, a private hire vehicle cannot ply for hire or stand in a rank. It must be pre-booked with a private hire operator i.e. through the operator usually via telephone.

The vehicles have door signs which state "Advanced bookings only". They have a yellow plate affixed to the rear and a smaller version affixed to the windscreen which carry details of the expiry date, licence number and vehicle registration. These vehicles are not insured to ply for hire.

Both taxis and private hire vehicles have a maximum of eight passenger seats.

The Public Register

A link to the public register, Ribble Valley Borough Council's interactive web-pages dedicated to providing up to date information and services in relation to the Council's Licensing function is available here.

The register contains lists of drivers, vehicles and operators whom/which the Ribble Valley Borough Council has licensed.

Hackney carriage (taxi) ranks

There are permanent taxi ranks on King Lane and Station Road in Clitheroe.

Additional temporary taxi ranks (which operate as such after 6pm only) are on Castle Street and Market Place in Clitheroe.

Hackney carriage (taxi) licencing

There are two types of hackney carriage licence:

• a licence for a hackney carriage/taxi vehicle; and
• a licence for a hackney carriage/taxi driver.

Information on the hackney carriage vehicles and drivers that are already licensed to operate in the Ribble Valley is available here.

Licences issued by Ribble Valley Borough Council have certain licence conditions attached to them.  Details of these licence conditions are available here.

Private hire vehicle (minicab) licencing

There are three types of private hire licence:

• a licence for a private hire vehicle/minicab; 
• a licence for a private hire vehicle/minicab driver; and
• a licence for a private hire vehicle/minicab driver operator.

Information on private hire vehicles, drivers and operators that are licensed to operate in the Ribble Valley is available here.

Licences issued by Ribble Valley Borough Council have certain licence conditions attached to them. Details of these licence conditions are available here.

Infringement Scheme

The Council has an infringement scheme in place.  This scheme will apply to all hackney carriage and private hire drivers, vehicles and operators that are licensed by the Ribble Valley Borough Council. 

The scheme can be downloaded from here.

Complaints

Should you have a complaint in relation to a driver, vehicle or operator, please could you raise your complaint with the operator in the first instance.

If the operator fails to respond or to deal with your complaint, please then contact the Council's licensing officer, Jane Horsfield, by email at jane.horsfield@ribblevalley.gov.uk or by telephone on 01200 414411. 

It would be helpful if, when contacting the Council, you could please supply us with details of the vehicle registration number, the taxi/private hire licence number, the driver's badge number or the private hire operating firm name, together with details of your original complaint to the operator and how this was dealt with.