Anticipatory powers of excluded district councils4
1
The powers conferred by this article shall be exercisable by the council of an excluded district for the purpose of securing that—
a
hackney carriages and their drivers; and
b
private hire vehicles, their drivers and operators,
may be licensed and able to operate lawfully in relation to the whole of that district from the appointed day.
2
The council of a wholly excluded district may at any time before the appointed day—
a
license hackney carriages under section 37 of the 1847 Act to ply for hire in its district;
b
license persons under section 46 of the 1847 Act to drive hackney carriages licensed to ply for hire in its district.
3
Section 48 of the 1976 Act shall apply in relation to applications for vehicle licences made at any time before the appointed day to the council of a wholly excluded district or the council of a partially excluded district to which Part II of the 1976 Act did not apply before the coming into force of this order.
4
Section 55 of the 1976 Act shall apply in relation to applications made at any time before the appointed day to the council of an excluded district for licences to operate private hire vehicles in any part of its district to which the 1976 Act will not apply until the appointed day.
5
Section 51 of the 1976 Act shall apply in relation to applications for licences to drive private hire vehicles made at any time before the appointed day to the council of a wholly excluded district or the council of a partially excluded district to which Part II of the 1976 Act did not apply on the coming into force of this Order.
6
A licence granted pursuant to paragraph (2), (3), (4) or (5) shall not come into force before the appointed day.
7
Subject to the foregoing provisions of this article, the council of an excluded district, may at any time before the appointed day—
a
issue any disc, plate or badge in relation to any licence issued pursuant to this article on such terms as to its use and display before that day as it may think fit;
b
do anything appearing to it to be appropriate or expedient for the purpose of establishing and operating a licensing system; or
c
do anything else which it considers appropriate to fulfil the purpose specified in paragraph (1).