Horse Drawn Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licence Policy
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Licensing criteria
Vehicle licences will be issued for a maximum of one year.
| Licensing criteria | Required standard |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Fitness standards | A satisfactory inspection report following an inspection by an Authorised Officer/Agent of the Council. All vehicles licensed by the Borough Council require inspection at an approved garage (a list of approve. |
| A current insurance certificate | To enable us to licence a Horse drawn Hackney Carriage we require sight of an original valid insurance policy, and schedule or cover note for that vehicle covering public liability for no less than £5,000,000 (5 million). The policy must give details of plate number and list all named drivers for the carriage. It shall be the responsibility of the proprietor of a licensed vehicle to produce proof of continuous insurance cover. The insurance proof is to be reviewed by the licensing authority within seven days of the expiry of the preceding certificate or cover note. If the proprietor fails to produce a certificate of insurance cover on request he or she shall produce it forthwith or within seven clear days of the request to an authorised officer of the Borough Council. Failure to comply may result in the immediate suspension of the vehicle licence by authorised officers. The suspension will remain in place until a satisfactory certificate of insurance is produced. Any driver insured to drive a licensed vehicle must hold a Hackney Carriage or Private Hire Drivers Licence. |
| Veterinary Surgeon Certificate | A satisfactory Veterinary surgeon certificate of inspection carried out by an authorised veterinary surgeon will be required for every horse used. An interim Veterinary surgeon certificate of inspection will also be required - typically in July of every year. |
| Valid Horse Passport | A valid horse passport will be required for every horse used and a copy supplied to the Licensing Team. |
| Basic DBS check | Proprietors of Horse drawn Hackney Carriages will be required to undertake a Basic DBS Check. (If the owner is also a Hackney Carriage/Private Hire driver with the authority then this Pre-requisite will not be required) |
| Horse ID mark | All horses must bear an identification mark. This must be either freeze marking or hoof branding. This mark must be present when inspected by an authorised vet and entered on the veterinary certificate. The brands should be in numbers and placed on the front nearside hoof. |
| Completed application form | |
| Payment of prescribed fee | Current Licence fees |
Horse drawn Hackney Carriages vehicle specification
Only vehicles meeting the following specification will be considered for licensing:
- a landau of traditional construction and appearance having spoke wheels and solid rubber tyres with a door on each side of the carriage - a dropdown hood in two sections, meeting in the middle when closed and having rigid glass or plastic windows
- a carriage with one door only at the rear, having spoke wheels and solid rubber tyres - the hood being in one piece, closing from front to rear, with no rigid windows
Licensing Conditions
- the vehicle shall be produced for examination and inspection by an Authorised Officer or Agent of the Council at such times and at such places as may be required
- the Council shall be notified if any alteration is proposed to be made to any part of the vehicle, before such alteration is carried out
- the vehicle shall be fitted with a sufficient drag-chain and slipper or other sufficient brake
- the vehicle shall be kept in good order, the inside and outside clean and braking machinery efficient
- the floor of the vehicle shall be covered with mats of a suitable material
- the vehicle shall have a watertight roof and a means of opening and closing the windows
- the seats of the vehicle shall be properly cushioned or covered; fittings and furniture shall be kept clean and adequate for the convenience of persons travelling in the vehicle
- the vehicle shall at all times display the plate showing the Hackney Carriage licence number
- the number of passengers carried in the vehicle shall not exceed the number on the Hackney Carriage licence
- a second-class Hackney Carriage shall not be used unless a dung catcher (as manufactured in accordance with the Council's specification) is fitted to the vehicle, which has the effect of preventing at least 90% of the horse dung from being deposited on the highway
- the licensee is to indemnify the Council from and against all claims by third parties arising from or in connection with the exercise of these rights hereby granted
- the Council will require the licensee to obtain road and public liability insurance policies, which include the Council's name
- the amount of cover provided in respect of public liability should be a minimum of five million pounds (£5,000.000)
- the Council shall inspect and approve the policies before the licence is operated
- the licensee shall observe and comply with such bylaws and safety regulations recommended or imposed by law, and the bylaws and conditions from time to time in force within the District, which relate to the operating of horse-drawn vehicles
- the licensee shall not permit any person to mount, ride, drive, otherwise use, or treat any horse or the animal in their charge in such a manner as to cause suffering to the animal
- the licensee shall not cause or permit any horse or other animal in their charge to be kicked or ill-treated in any manner
- the maximum hours of working for any horse shall be ten (10) hours per day, five (5) days a week in a seven (7) day period and all horses shall be rested as appropriate
- a sufficient quantity of palatable and fresh food and water shall always be available to all animals
- in addition, a supply of fresh water shall always be available to all animals. Food and water being contained in a proper bag or receptacle
- only horses shall be used to pull landaus - no horse, which in the opinion of any Authorised Officer or Agent, is incapable of pulling the vehicle or is in poor physical condition or which is suffering from any injury, disability or illness, shall be allowed to be harnessed to a landau or other vehicle
- every part of the harness of animals drawing a Hackney Carriage shall be kept in order so that the animal is properly and securely attached to the carriage and under due control
- in the event of an Authorised Officer or Agent of the Council having reason to suspect that an animal being used in the operation of a Hackney Carriage is unfit to fulfil its functions, that animal shall be subjected to immediate inspection by a qualified veterinary surgeon and the licensee shall meet the costs involved - where an animal is found unfit, its use in the operation of a Hackney Carriage shall be discontinued until a certificate of fitness signed by a qualified veterinary surgeon is produced to the Council's Authorised Officer or Agent
- all horses engaged in pulling second class Hackney Carriages must be at least 14.2 hands high
- the current Council Fare Table shall be exhibited on the exterior of both sides of the carriage so as to be in full view of the public at all times
- no person shall be charged more than the fares set out in the current Council Fare Table and the choice of single or return journeys shall be at the discretion of the hirer
- the licence shall be revocable in case of the Council being reasonably satisfied that a breach of the foregoing conditions or any Act or Bylaw relating to Hackney Carriages has occurred
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