Licence summary

To work as a taxi or private hire car business in Argyll and Bute, you need a licence from the Local Authority.

Eligibility Criteria

A licence to be known as a taxi licence shall be required for carrying on the trade as a taxi business.

A licence to be known as a Private Hire Car Licence shall be required for carrying on the trade as a Private Hire Car business.

Drivers of these vehicles also require to hold a taxi or private hire car drivers licence.

You must not be disqualified from holding a licence and you must be a fit and proper person to be the holder of a licence.

You must not have applied for the same licence within the last year, unless there has been a material change in your circumstances since your last application.

There can be more than one name stated on this licence.

Regulation Summary

A summary of the regulation relating to this licence

Schedule of Conditions

Details of the Schedule of Conditions for a Private Hire Car Licence (pdf 128.35 KB)

Details of the Schedule of Conditions for a Taxi Licence (pdf 90.83 KB)

How to apply

You can download the application forms to apply for a licence, renewal or amendment below:

Taxi car licence - application for new licence (doc 140.5 KB)

Private hire car licence - application for new licence (doc 140.5 KB)

Taxi car licence - application for renewal (doc 140.5 KB)

Private hire car licence - application for renewal (doc 141.5 KB)

Application for Amendment to an Existing Licence (doc 35 KB)

Application Evaluation Process

Applications must:

• be in writing(including by electronic means)
• be signed by the applicant/s(including electronic means)
• contain the applicant’s name and address
• include the remittance fee
• details of the vehicle to be used for the business

The Local Authority will:

• send a copy of the application to the Chief Constable
• place a notice within the local authority office notice board, which states the applicant name and address and what type of licence is being applied for, that any objections or representations may be made to the local authority and how such representations should be made
• keep a register of applications in which they will enter the details of the receipt of the application, their final decision and reasons for the decision, the details of the terms of each licence granted and a note of any suspension, variation of the terms, or surrender of a licence

The register must be available for inspection by any member of the public at reasonable times and place and any member of the public must be permitted to make a copy of it. A fee will be required for this service.
Where the local authority fails to make a decision within 6 months of the application, the licence is held to be granted or renewed.

Will Tacit Consent Apply?

No. It is in the public interest that the authority must process your application before it can be granted. If you have not heard from the local authority within a reasonable period, please contact it. You can do this online if you applied through the UK Welcomes service or use the contact details below

Other Evidence

The applicant must include an insurance certificate; MOT certificate, if applicable; registration document (if this is not possible, a bill of sale is acceptable)

Fees

£369.00 – this type of licence runs on a 3 yearly basis (1st July 2009 to 30th June 2012). The fee is reduced by a third each year.

Contact Details for the Customer to use

nicole.jamieson@argyll-bute.gov.uk at Governance and Law, Kilmory, Lochgilphead, PA31 8RT on 01546 604355

Failed Application Redress

(if you have made an application for a license and it has been refused)

Please contact your Local Authority in the first instance.

Within 21 days of the date of the decision to refuse their application, the applicant may require the licence authority to give the reasons for their decision.

The applicant may appeal to the sheriff against the decision, within 28 days of the decision, as long as they have already followed any available procedure in terms of stating their case to the local authority.

The appeal will only be successful if the sheriff considers that the local authority, in making their decision, had:

• erred in law
• based their decision on an incorrect material fact
• acted contrary to natural justice
• exercised their discretion in an unreasonable manner

The applicant may then appeal on a point of law from the sheriff's decision to the Court of Session within 28 days from the date of the sheriff’s decision.

Licence Holder Redress    

Please contact your Local Authority in the first instance.

If the local authority decides to suspend a licence, not to renew a licence, or not to consent to material changes to the premises or vehicle used in the course of a licence holder's work, the licence holder may appeal against the decision within 28 days of being notified, as long as they have already followed any available procedure in terms of stating their case to the local authority.

The appeal will only be successful if the sheriff considers that the local authority, in making their decision, had:

• erred in law
• based their decision on an incorrect material fact
• acted contrary to natural justice
• exercised their discretion in an unreasonable manner

The licence holder may then appeal on a point of law from the sheriff's decision to the Court of Session within 28 days from the date of the sheriff’s decision.

Consumer Complaint

We would always advise that in the event of a complaint the first contact is made with the trader by you – preferably in the form of a letter (with proof of delivery). If that has not worked, if you are located in the UK, Consumer Direct will give you advice. From outside the UK European Consumer Centre.