The Greater London Authority Act 1999 (Hackney Carriages and Private Hire Vehicles) (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Order 2000

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

On 1st April 2000 (in this Order called “the appointed day”), in consequence of the coming into force of section 323 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999, the boundary of the metropolitan police district will be changed so as to exclude all parts of that district lying outside Greater London. Section 255 of that Act provides that on the appointed day the licensing of hackney carriages and private hire vehicles to operate in those areas will become the responsibility of the relevant district councils in accordance with the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 and the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.

This Order makes transitional and consequential provisions in relation to the licensing of taxis and private hire vehicles in the affected districts.

Article 2 contains definitions and in particular distinguishes between wholly excluded districts and partially excluded districts, according as the whole or part only of a district ceases to be within the metropolitan police district. The wholly excluded districts are Epsom and Ewell, Hertsmere and Spelthorne. The partially excluded districts are Broxbourne, Elmbridge, Epping Forest, Reigate and Banstead and Welwyn Hatfield.

Article 3 provides that, where a council of a partially excluded district has byelaws in force under the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 in part of its area, those byelaws are to apply to the whole area from the appointed day. Article 4 provides for the granting of licences in anticipation of the appointed day and enables the councils generally to do anything else appropriate for the purpose of securing that taxis and private hire vehicles can operate lawfully in their areas on the appointed day.

Article 5 provides that licences granted to ply for hire in the metropolitan police district cease to have effect on the appointed day in areas no longer included in that district. Article 6 provides for taxi standings designated in such areas under the legislation applying to the metropolitan police district to continue to have effect under the corresponding provisions of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976. Article 7 makes consequential amendments to section 74 of that Act (saving for businesses) and to the definition of “controlled district” in section 80(1).