(1)Subject to the provisions of this Part of this Act, a district council shall, on the receipt of an application from any person for the grant to that person of a licence to drive private hire vehicles, grant to that person a driver's licence:
Provided that a district council shall not grant a licence—
(a)unless they are satisfied that the applicant is a fit and proper person to hold a driver's licence ; or
(b)to any person who has not for at least twelve months been, and is not at the date of the application for a driver's licence, the holder of a licence granted under Part III of the Act of 1972 (not being a provisional licence) authorising him to drive a motor car.
(2)A district council may attach to the grant of a licence under this section such conditions as they may consider reasonably necessary.
(3)It shall be the duty of a council by which licences are granted in pursuance of this section to enter, in a register maintained by the council for the purpose, the following particulars of each such licence, namely—
(a)the name of the person to whom it is granted;
(b)the date on which and the period for which it is granted ; and
(c)if the licence has a serial number, that number,
and to keep the register available at its principal offices for inspection by members of the public during office hours free of charge.