Private Hire Operators Licence
In order to dispatch a driver and vehicle the operator must be licensed by the Council. An Operator may only dispatch a vehicle and driver that have corresponding valid driver and vehicle licences issued by Chorley Council.
The operator must also demonstrate that they are ‘fit and proper’ and this can extend to the persons they employ. Therefore, where an operator employs someone with criminal convictions this will reflect on the fit and proper status of the operator and may result in their licence being reviewed or revoked.
The operator’s licence is valid for 5 years.
On application and at each renewal the operator and any partners and directors of the company must complete a Basic DBS Disclosure where no enhanced DBS already exists for the applicant. Therefore existing Chorley Council licensed drivers that are already subject to regular enhanced DBS checks are not required to also obtain a basic DBS as part of the PHO licence application or renewal.
Any licensed operator shall notify the Council in writing of any conviction or caution recorded against him/her and/or the imposition of any endorsement or fixed penalty within 7 days of such conviction or caution or penalty being imposed.
All journeys must be pre-booked by the passenger. The operator may use a number of methods for collecting bookings, such as personal visits to the operator site where there is planning permission and waiting room provisions for this, by telephone calls, online using either the operator’s or referral company website or by the use of mobile applications.
Journeys may also be on a contract basis booked by a third party, such as a care establishment or school etc. on behalf of the passenger.
When the operator accepts a hiring, he/she shall, unless prevented by some sufficient cause, ensure that a licensed private hire vehicle attends at the appointed time and place.