Mims Davies MP shares MSDC Consultations on Licensing Policy, Taxi Licensing & Pavement Licensing

Mims Davies MP shares MSDC Consultations on Licensing Policy, Taxi Licensing & Pavement Licensing

Licensing Policy

Start Date: 5 August 2024
End Date: 29 September 2024

The draft policy is the sixth since the Licensing Act 2003 became law on 24th November 2005.

A number of revisions have been made by the Government in the light of experience of the Act and suggestions from its practitioners and the Policy has also been updated to reflect amendments to the Section 182 Guidance.

Any comments on the Policy should be received by the Licensing Team no later than 29 September 2024 and provided by email to:

[email protected]

Or by post to:

Licensing Team
Mid Sussex District Council
Oaklands Road
Haywards heath
West Sussex
RH16 1SS

Taxi Licensing

Consultation – Proposed Amendments to Taxi Licensing Policy

Start Date: 5 August 2024
End Date: 29 September 2024

Mid Sussex District Council is currently considering making amendments to our Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy.

Due to the revised Best Practice Guidance issued by the Department of Transport in November 2023, concerns surrounding the refusal and acceptance of electronic payments and the perceived lack of availability of Wheelchair Accessible Licensed Vehicles the policy has been reviewed and some processes have been updated and amended. The amendments are listed here as headings.

1. Updating Points based enforcement system for points to remain for 36 months
2. Introduction of Disability Awareness training for Operators who are not licensed drivers
3. Removal of roof signs from Private Hire vehicles
4. Remove the requirement for vehicles to carry a fire extinguisher
5. Measures to ensure drivers of Wheelchair Accessible vehicles have appropriate training in connection with the loading and unloading of disabled customers
6. Introduction of card readers to all licensed vehicles
7. Removal of cap on Hackney Carriage Vehicle licences with all new licenses issued to wheelchair accessible vehicles.

Any comments on these amendments should be received by the Licensing Team in writing no later than 29 September

If you'd like to share your views on the consultation, you can do so by post to:

Taxi Licensing Team
Mid Sussex District Council
Oaklands Road
Haywards Heath
West Sussex
RH16 1SS

Or by emailing: [email protected]

Pavement Licensing

Start Date: 5 August 2024
End Date: 29 September 2024

The policy is new to this council and has been specifically prepared to take account of the provisions of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2024 which make the Pavement Licence provisions in The Business and Planning Act 2020 permanent.

The new legislation increases the duration of licences to 2 years and provides enforcement powers for local authorities. It also gives the Authority the ability to charge up to £500 for new applications and £350 for renewal applications, but these fees can only be charged on a cost recovery basis.

Any comments on the Policy should be received by the Licensing Team no later than 29 September 2024 and your views on the new policy can be provided by email to:

[email protected]

Or by post to:

Licensing Team
Mid Sussex District Council
Oaklands Road
Haywards heath
West Sussex
RH16 1SS