I have read it in the act that a hackney carriage can be engaged by time or distance. Now what is meant be being engaged by time? and who sets the rate?

The rate for time or distance should be on your fare table and it is set in the process of fixing rate to be charged by a TAXI (hackney carriage).

As a Councillor and TAXI proprietor thought you would have known that.

I have read it in the act that a hackney carriage can be engaged by time or distance. Now what is meant be being engaged by time? and who sets the rate?

The rate the council set applies outside of an area unless prior agreement is made.

If you are saying a rate within the licensing area can be set by time, rather than distance, then that's not my reading of the act.

When a meter is calibrated it is set at a rate for a particular number of yards or a particular number of seconds ie. 178.90 or 44.5 seconds.
If you are stopped in traffic jam your meter is still working on the time factor as the yardage factor is at a stand still.

Pretty certain that's not what he is asking, more like could he charge a punter, say £20 an hour, for a job running around his licensing district, as opposed to the mileage rate.

IMO in a hackney he can't.

Pretty certain that's not what he is asking, more like could he charge a punter, say £20 an hour, for a job running around his licensing district, as opposed to the mileage rate.

IMO in a hackney he can't.

Yes, that is what I was asking. I was asked this question by a new owner and I didn't think it was allowed but I just wanted to check. This new owner also thinks his wife can drive his Hackney when he isn't working because his insurance says any driver. I understand the licensing team have told him what he can and can't do and I have told him until I am blue in the face but he still insists that we are all wrong. In the end I told him that if he thinks he is so right he should just do it and see if he gets prosecuted. Unfortunately, with the lack of enforcement due to cutbacks, he probably wouldn't get caught.

He must be paying a small fortune for any driver insurance as a new proprietor.

Yes, that is what I was asking. I was asked this question by a new owner and I didn't think it was allowed but I just wanted to check. This new owner also thinks his wife can drive his Hackney when he isn't working because his insurance says any driver. I understand the licensing team have told him what he can and can't do and I have told him until I am blue in the face but he still insists that we are all wrong. In the end I told him that if he thinks he is so right he should just do it and see if he gets prosecuted. Unfortunately, with the lack of enforcement due to cutbacks, he probably wouldn't get caught.

People ignore the law all the time, and all kind of laws. Taxi/PH drivers ain't no different.

Most enforcement nowadays is done indirectly by other taxi/PH drivers.

like a grass?

Some may say grass, others might say 'fit and proper person'.