Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers - Knowledge Test Review - Report to the Licensing Committee - 14 December 2020

Sep 18, 2026

Report to the Licensing Committee on proposed changes to the Knowledge Test for applicants seeking hackney carriage and private hire drivers’ licences issued by Hull City Council. It outlines the current assessment checks, including medical, driving, and literacy and numeracy requirements, then focuses on local knowledge and a spoken communication element. It recommends moving the test in-house via Hull Training, splitting it into three parts with specified question types and pass marks, and sets options for Committee approval, retention, or withdrawal.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

Purpose of the Report and Summary

Recommendations

Background

Issues for Consideration

Options

Consultation

Monitoring Officer Assurance Statement

Report to the LICENSING COMMITTEE 14 December 2020 Ward(s): All Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers – Knowledge Test Review Report of the Corporate Director of Public Health Report No. KTR/20/020 and Adult Services 1. Purpose of the Report and Summary 1.1 To consider changes to the administration and content of the Knowledge Test for applicants for hackney carriage and private hire drivers’ licences issued by Hull City Council. 2. Recommendations 2.1 That the Licensing Committee approves the proposed changes to be made to the Knowledge Test as detailed within this report. 3. Background 3.1 All applicants for private hire or hackney carriage drivers licences are required to undergo the following checks and assessments: Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (criminal record)Check; DVLA Group 2 Medical Standard of Fitness to Drive; Driving Assessment; Literacy and Numeracy Assessment; Local Knowledge Test including Communication and Speaking Assessment; Level 2 Qualification relating to the role of the professional taxi and hackney carriage drivers. 3.2 These checks and assessments have been introduced by the Licensing Committee over a period of time in order to provide full and sufficient information to the Authority before it assesses whether or not an applicant is a “fit and proper person” to hold such a licence under sections 51 and 59 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976. 3.3 The Literacy and Numeracy Assessment was introduced in 2008 as a test for all new applicants to ensure that they had the basic skills in communication and arithmetic to enable them to perform the duties necessary to ensure the health, safety and welfare of passengers. When it was introduced in 2008 the Literacy and Numeracy Assessment replaced the ‘Local Knowledge Test’ that was undertaken at the time. 3.4 At the 2013 Policy and Conditions review the Committee decided to reintroduce a topographical knowledge test to supplement the Literacy Assessment as Members felt that, at times, drivers did not have sufficient knowledge of the City to carry out their duties effectively. The test currently comprises two parts: Part 1 identifying at least 45 out of 60 streets from a choice of five different papers each with 60 streets; Part 2 successfully planning 3 routes out of a choice of 5 journeys. 3.5 In November 2015, following further concern from Members of the Committee on the ability of some drivers to be able to communicate adequately with their passengers, a spoken part of the knowledge test was introduced where the candidate now has to verbally describe the routes in Part 2 of the assessment. 4. Issues for Consideration 4.1 The current administration of Knowledge Test for hackney carriage and private hire driver applications has been highlighted in a recent Local Government Ombudsman Decision who recommended that the provision of the current test be reviewed. 4.2 As a result of this and following the request from Private Hire Operators to review driver applications, brought before the Committee on 14 September, Members decided that the contents of the Knowledge Test be considered in light of the comments from the trade and any suggestions for amendments be brought back to Committee. 4.3 As a result of that review and through consultation with Hull Training Members are asked to consider the following changes to the Test • The Test will now be carried out in-house through Hull Training andwill follow on from the Safeguarding Training already provided to applicants. • The test will comprise of three parts. 1. 10 questions on current policy, conditions and licensing law taken from the Conditions and Procedures Handbook issued to all applicants and current drivers. The pass mark will be 100% . 2. 30 multiple choice questions on locations. Applicants will be provided with a list of over 100 locations, venues and points of interest and the questions will be drawn f

FAQs

What is the purpose of the report to the Licensing Committee?

To consider changes to the administration and content of the Knowledge Test for applicants for hackney carriage and private hire drivers’ licences issued by Hull City Council.

Which assessments are applicants required to complete before being considered “fit and proper”?

Applicants must complete checks including Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service, DVLA Group 2 Medical Standard, Driving Assessment, Literacy and Numeracy Assessment, and Local Knowledge Test including Communication and Speaking Assessment, plus a Level 2 Qualification related to the role.

How will the revised in-house Knowledge Test be structured and scored?

It will have three parts: 10 questions on policy/conditions/licensing law with a 100% pass mark; 30 multiple-choice questions on locations with an 80% pass mark; and a route-writing plus verbal explanation component with a 60% pass mark for the written part.

Sep 18, 2026

Uploaded by Emma Wilson