Taxi Conditions Report - June '25 Ctte
North Ayrshire Council · 4 June 2025
Back to Licensing Committee — 4 June 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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NORTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL 4 June 2025 Licensing Committee Title: Review and Update of Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Conditions Purpose: To present proposed updates to the licensing conditions for Taxis, Taxi Drivers, Wheelchair Accessible Taxis and Private Hire Cars. Recommendation: It is recommended that the Licensing Committee considers the proposed amendments to the various licensing conditions, as highlighted in red in the draft documents contained within the appendix. Should the Committee be satisfied with the proposed changes, it is recommended that these be adopted with immediate effect. Alternatively, the Committee may request further amendments as deemed necessary. 1. Executive Summary 1.1 The proposed amendments reflect updates to administrative and enforcement practices by both Police Scotland and North Ayrshire Council. 1.2 The revised conditions aim to ensure clarity, consistency and enforceability across all relevant licence types. They also improve transparency for licence holders in relation to driver conduct, vehicle requirements and disclosure obligations. 1.3 A key objective of the amendments is to harmonise the wording and structure of the various licensing conditions, providing a consistent and user friendly framework for both licence holders and council officers. 1.4 The Licensing Authority will continue to review and update licensing conditions as necessary to reflect legislative changes, evolving operational needs and feedback. This ensures the conditions remain fit for purpose and responsive to the needs of the trade and the public. 2. Background 2.1 Changes to operational and enforcement practices by both North Ayrshire Council and Police Scotland have highlighted the need to revise existing licensing conditions to ensure they remain relevant and practical.
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2.2 The Taxi Drivers Badge issued by the Licensing Authority is currently too large to be comfortably worn or displayed. In practice, drivers carry the badge and produce it upon request. The proposed condition amendment formalises this arrangement. 2.3 Police Scotland now make use of Police Direct Measures, including Recorded Police Warnings and Anti-Social Behaviour Fixed Penalty Notices. There is currently no statutory requirement to disclose these outcomes but the proposed amendments introduce a disclosure obligation in line with public safety expectations. 2.4 The current scales of fares and charges are publicly available on North Ayrshire Council’s website, removing the need for them to be displayed within each licensed vehicle. The proposed amendment reflects this digital accessibility. 2.5 The review has also identified inconsistencies in the structure, language and layout of the existing conditions across the different licensing types. The proposed amendments aim to harmonise these conditions to promote clarity, reduce duplication and aid enforcement. 2.6 Ensuring consistency and clarity in licensing conditions supports both enforcement efforts and public confidence in the licensed trade. These proposals aim to balance regulatory oversight with clear, updated guidance for licence holders. 3. Proposals 3.1 Updating of the Standard Conditions of Licence Conditions 3.2 Updating of the Taxi Driver Licence Conditions 3.3 Updating of the Disabled Driver Licence Conditions 3.4 Updating of the Private Hire Standard Licence Conditions 3.5 If approved, the amended licensing conditions will take immediate effect and apply to both existing licence holders and new applicants from the date of the Committee’s decision.
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4. Implications/Socio-economic Duty Financial 4.1 None Human Resources 4.2 None Legal 4.3 The proposed amendments ensure that licence conditions remain compatible with the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982. The revised conditions reflect evolving legal and enforcement practices and will reduce ambiguity for both licence holders and enforcement officers. Equality/Socio-economic 4.4 None Climate Change and Carbon 4.5 None Key Priorities 4.6 The proposed amendments support North Ayrshire Council’s key priorities by improving public safety and wellbeing, promoting transparent and consistent regulation within communities and streamlining administrative processes in line with the Council’s commitment to a sustainable and efficient service. Community Wealth Building 4.7 None Islands Communities Impact Assessment (ICIA) 4.8 None United Nations Rights of the Child (UNCRC) 4.9 None Consumer Duty 4.10 The proposed amendments support consumer protection by ensuring licence holders are subject to clear, consistent and enforceable standards, particularly around fares, safety and conduct.
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5. Consultation 5.1 The proposed amendments have been developed following internal discussions between officers from Legal Services and Licensing, with a focus on practical enforceability and consistency across licensing regimes. Should the Committee deem it necessary, formal consultation with the trade can be arranged prior to final adoption. Aileen Craig Head of Democratic Services For further information please contact Drew Robertson, Civic Licensing Standards Officer, on 01294 310000. Background Papers 0