Scarborough Borough Council Dual Driver Licence Guidance Notes & Application Pack January 2017 CONTENTS PAGES Introduction 3 Application procedure & fees 3 Immigration Act 2016 - Status Check 4 DVLA Licence Check Code 4 Medical Report 4 Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) application 5 - 6 Knowledge and Geographical Test 7 Safeguarding Training 7 Driver Dress Code 8 Medical conditions following issue of licence 8 Convictions or arrests following issue of licence 8 Change of details 8 Immigration Status Check – Evidence of identity 9 – 10 Knowledge and Geographical Test information 11 - 19 These guidance notes are aimed at assisting applicants when making an application; You are advised to read Scarborough Borough Council’s Taxi & Private Hire Policy before making an application. The Policy is available to view online at www.scarborough.gov.uk [email protected] www.scarborough.gov.uk @scarborocouncil /scarboroughcouncil 01723 232323 Page | 2 Dual Driver Licence Guidance Notes to Applicants January 2017 DUAL DRIVER'S LICENCE Scarborough Borough Council’s Licensing Authority issues dual driver licenses which gives the holder the flexibility to drive either a private hire vehicle or hackney carriage vehicle. A licence will usually be issued for a 3 year period with drivers aged 65 and over required to produce an annual medical report. A person must be considered as fit and proper to hold a driver’s licence with this authority, a licence cannot be granted to a person who is under 18 years of age or who has not held a full driving licence for a period of 1 year. All applicants are required to complete an application form and are reminded that it is an offence to knowingly or recklessly make any false statement or omit relevant information. If you intend to carry wheelchair users in a private hire vehicle or drive a wheelchair accessible hackney carriage, you must also complete and pass a wheelchair accessible vehicle assessment/exercise approved by the Licensing Authority. Further details can be obtained by contacting Licensing Services. APPLICATION PROCEDURE You must make an appointment to submit your application form in person. Applications cannot be made by post. Please bring the following information to your appointment. • Completed Application Form • Fee • Evidence of Identity for immigration status check • Medical Certificate dated within 12 months of date of application • Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) application and supporting evidence of identity or a DBS disclosure dated within 6 months of date of application • DVLA Photocard Driving Licence • DVLA Driving Licence check code Stage 1 Your application and immigration status will be checked at your appointment to ensure we have all the information required. Please note your DBS disclosure can take up to 8 weeks to arrive. Page | 3 Dual Driver Licence Guidance Notes to Applicants January 2017 Stage 2 Your application will be acknowledged in writing and you will be provided with a date and time for your Knowledge & Geographical Test. Once you have successfully passed your Knowledge & Geographical Test and you have submitted your DBS disclosure (which will be sent direct to you from the DBS), your completed application will be considered by the Licensing Authority. If your application is granted your licence will be issued within 5 working days and forwarded to you in the post (any original documents will be sent via recorded delivery). You will also be sent a date and time to attend the Safeguarding Course. In some cases it may be deemed necessary for your application to be determined at a meeting of the Licensing Sub-Committee, the date of which you would be notified of in writing. Immigration Act 2016 – Status Check The Licensing Authority is required by law to check the immigration status off ALL drivers. You must produce evidence of your identity at your application appointment and all documents must be originals. The full range of documents acceptable for checking are set out in two lists attached to these guidance notes. DVLA Licence Check Code As part of the application process we must check the details of your driving licence including any points or disqualifications you may have. To obtain a code please visit www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence. Your code must be no more than 14 days old when you submit your application. Medical Report All applicants must submit a medical certificate on the approved form issued by the Council which must be completed and signed by a registered medical practitioner. The medical examination is to be conducted to Group 2 DVLA medical standards for passenger carrying vehicles. It is the applicant's responsibility to arrange for the necessary medical examination at his/her own expense. Your medical examination must be carried out by a GP practitioner who has access to your medical history in order that reference can be made to your medical records. If the medical certificate produced is not satisfactory in any respect, you may be required to provide additional medical evidence concerning your fitness and to submit to a further examination by a doctor selected by the Council. Page | 4 Dual Driver Licence Guidance Notes to Applicants January 2017 Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) You should be aware that the Licensing Authority is empowered by law to check with the Disclosure & Barring Service for the existence and content of any criminal record in the name of an applicant. Information received from the DBS will be kept in strict confidence while the licensing process takes its course and will be retained for no longer than necessary. The disclosure of a criminal record or other information will not debar you from gaining a licence unless the Authority considers that the conviction renders you unsuitable. In making this decision the Authority will consider the nature of the offence, how long ago and what age you were when it was committed and any other factors that may be relevant. Any applicant refused a drivers licence on the ground that he/she is not a fit and proper person to hold such a licence has a right of appeal to the Magistrates’ Court. DBS - Evidence of identity If you are submitting a DBS application the following evidence of identity must be submitted. Please note we can only accept original documents and these will be returned to you by recorded delivery. Documents required in support of your DBS application – • 1 document from group 1 and • 2 further documents from group 1, 2a or 2b; one of which must verify your current address. Group 1 – Primary Identity Documents Passport Any current and valid passport Biometric residence permit UK/Isle of Man/Channel Islands and EU (full or provisional) (Please note some European countries do not issue counterparts) All licences must be valid in line with current DVLA requirements Current driving licence – UK/Isle of Man/Channel Islands and EU (full or provisional) photocard with counterpart (Please note some European countries do not issue counterparts) All licences must be valid in line with current DVLA requirements Birth certificate – issued at UK and Channel Islands – including those issued by UK time of birth authorities overseas, e.g. embassies, High Commissions and HM Forces Adoption certificate UK and Channel Islands Page | 5 Dual Driver Licence Guidance Notes to Applicants January 2017 Group 2a: Trusted government documents Current driving licence – All countries (full or provisional) photo card All licences must be valid in line with current DVLA requirements Current driving licence – UK/Isle of Man/Channel Islands and EU. All licences must be paper version valid in line with current DVLA requirements Birth certificate – issued UK and Channel Islands after time of birth Marriage/civil partnership UK and Channel Islands certificate HM Forces ID card UK Firearms licence UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man Group 2b: Financial and social history documents Mortgage Statement UK or EEA Issued in last 12 months Bank or building society UK and Channel Islands or EEA Issued in last 3 months statement Bank or building society UK Issued in last 3 months account opening confirmation letter Credit card statement UK or EEA Issued in last 3 months Financial statement e.g. UK Issued in last 12 months pension or endowment P45 or P60 statement UK and Channel Islands Issued in last 12 months Council tax statement UK and Channel Islands Issued in last 12 months Work permit or visa UK Valid up to expiry Letter of sponsorship from Non-UK or non-EEA only – Must still be valid future employment provider valid only for applicants residing outside of the UK at time of application Utility bill UK – not mobile telephone bill Issued in last 3 months Benefit Statement e.g. Child UK Issued in last 3 months Benefit, Pension Central or local UK and Channel Islands Issued in last 3 months government, government agency, or local council document giving entitlement, e.g. from the Department for Work and Pensions, the Employment Service, HMRC EU National ID Card Must still be valid Cards carrying the PASS UK and Channel Islands Must still be valid accreditation logo Letter from head teacher or UK – for 16 to 19 year olds in full college principal time education. Only used in exceptional circumstances if other documents cannot be provided Page | 6 Dual Driver Licence Guidance Notes to Applicants January 2017 Knowledge & Geographical Test Drivers must have a good working knowledge of the area within which they intend to work. Therefore to maintain the high standards that the Licensing Authority expects of its drivers, a licence to drive a hackney carriage or private hire vehicle shall not be granted until the applicant has successfully passed this test. The test is in two parts, the first being on the ‘Law and Conditions’ relating to private hire and hackney carriages and the second part of the test relates to ‘Knowledge of the Borough’.