Guidance for Booking Office Licence

Booking Office Guidance 

Before lodging your application for a booking office licence by email at Licensing Section please ensure that you have read the following guidance notes.

1. You should note that a booking licence is required for carrying on a business which consists to any extent of the taking of bookings, by means of any communication, from members of the public for the hire of a relevant vehicle (namely the business of a booking office).
2. Where the applicant is an individual natural person, the whole of question 1 should be completed, and question 2 should be ignored.
   
   Where the applicant for a booking office licence is an individual, they will require to provide proof of their right to work in the UK please view documentation required here
3. Where the applicant is a company, partnership or other non-natural person, the whole of question 2 should be completed and question 1 should be ignored. 

4. Tax Conditionality - Changes from 2 October 2023 for Applicants
   
   The UK Government has created tax requirements for applications of particular licences across the UK. The rules for completing a tax check changed on 2 October 2023 in Scotland. The new rules have already been implemented in England and Wales from 4 April 2022. Tax checks will be required for a taxi driver's licence.

   The table below details when a tax check should be carried out prior to lodging an application and when confirmation of being aware of the HMRC guidance relating to tax checks is sufficient.

   Please note that all renewal applications require the applicant to provide a 9 character tax code on the application form. Renewal applications will not be accepted by the Licensing Authority without an applicant's 9 character tax code provided by HMRC. The tax code provided from HMRC is valid for 120 days so please ensure when submitting a renewal application that a valid tax code is provided on the application. To complete a tax check click here.

   For most grant applications, an applicant will be required to confirm they are aware of their HMRC tax obligations when submitting an application however, there may be circumstances (see table below) when a 9 character tax code will be required.

   To find out more information about your tax registration obligations please visit: Register for Self Assessment or Pay Corporation Tax or How You Pay Income Tax.

   Type	Code Checker
   Renewal	Tax Check and 9 character  code provided with application
   New Grant - application where last licence expired/revoked less than 1 year from date of new application	Tax Check and 9 character code provided with application
   New Grant - (and holds same type of licence with another licensing authority)	Tax Check and 9 character code provided with application
   New Grant - and never held same type of licence before	Applicant must confirm on application form aware of HMRC guidance relating to tax obligations
   New Grant - and previously held licence that expired/revoked over a year ago from date of new application	Applicant must confirm on application form aware of HMRC guidance relating to tax obligations

    

5. The lodging fee for the application valid for 3 years is £341.  NB:  This fee is payable when the application is lodged and is non-refundable.

6. Payment should be made by BACS Transfer (electronic banking) to the Licensing Board Account. When making payments please quote your licence reference number if you are a current licence holder or for a new licence holder please quote "BO/property address of the premises"  as detailed below:-
   
   Account Name: Glasgow City Council - Licensing
   Account No. 00116224
   Sort Code: 83-44-00
   Reference: BO xxxxx or BO/quoting the address of the premises e.g. BO/231 George Street

   Payment submitted by post should be in the form of Cheque or Postal Order. All Cheques and Postal Orders should be made payable to Glasgow City Council. Do not send cash by post.  Please note that your application will not be formally lodged until payment has been received.  The fees are non-refundable.

7. The application form must be accompanied by four sets of plans of the layout of the premises and must be drawn to a suitable scale (usually 1:100).  Plans are not, however, required if the application is for the renewal of the licence.
8. The public notice requires to be completed and displayed on or near the premises where it can be easily read by the passing public in the street, for a period of 21 days, 24 hours a day, starting on the day the application is lodged at the Licensing Section.
9. The enclosed Certificate of Compliance requires to be completed and returned to the Licensing Section only after the 21-day notice period is over.
10. Whilst processing the application, the Licensing Section will consult with the following people:
     Police Scotland, Environmental Health and local Councillors.
11. Your attention is drawn to the standard conditions attached to a booking office licence which are as noted on the enclosed Schedule.
12. The Licensing Committee may attach additional conditions to the licence as it sees fit, with each application being dealt with on its own merits.
13. If you have any further questions about the application process the Council's Licensing Team will be happy to assist you.  Please note that whilst the Licensing Team can provide guidance, the team cannot offer you legal advice.  You can contact us by Phone 0141 287 5354 or by Email Emailing the Licensing Section.
14.  For clarification on fire safety matters please contact your local Scottish Fire and Rescue Station.

Links

• Licensing Committee Privacy Statement