Decision details

Suspend all future knowledge tests for existing applicants who have made applications and are currently in the process of becoming a Hackney Carriage /Private Hire Driver during the COVID-19 pandemic, until the current government social distancing and gathering requirements are reviewed and relaxed.

Currently the Licensing Service require any new person applying for a private hire or hackney carriage driver’s licence to under–take and pass a topographical knowledge test. The test consists of a face to face examination at the Town Hall with a member of the Licensing Service being present, these take place every two weeks.

A number of applicants all sit the test together at the same time in the town hall chamber for a 2 hour period supervised by a licensing officer. In order to comply with social distancing rules and gathering regulations it is requested that these tests be suspended until the government changes the current requirements social distancing and gathering requirements.

Approval has been previously obtained on the 24th March 2020 to postpone new driver applications for a three month period. However there are still a number of applicants who have applied in the preceding months earlier this year ,prior to government restrictions who have paid and still wish to take the test.