Issue - meetings

A report from the Executive Director (Corporate Core) is attached.

The Executive Director (Corporate Core) submitted a report to seek  approval to amend the Council's current transitional arrangements relating to emissions standards for existing licensed private hire vehicles.

The Council previously approved transitional arrangements allowing vehicle proprietors operating non-compliant private hire vehicles additional time to replace those vehicles with compliant alternatives. The current arrangements require vehicle proprietors to replace non-compliant vehicles by 4 January 2027.

Since approval of the policy, the Greater Manchester Private Hire Support Fund became available on 15 September 2026. Officers have identified that the period between the opening of the support fund and the compliance deadline may not provide sufficient opportunity for affected proprietors to apply for funding, receive approval, source a suitable replacement vehicle and complete the licensing process.

In developing the recommendation, officers considered a range of alternative options, including maintaining the existing compliance deadline and introducing a shorter extension period. Following assessment of the available evidence, funding timescales and likely impact on affected vehicle proprietors, officers consider the recommended option represents the most proportionate means of achieving compliance whilst supporting the licensed trade and maintaining the Council's air quality objectives.

Alternative options were provided, including maintaining the existing 4^th January 2027 deadline and to not make any changes to policy or extend the transitional period for a shorter period of time.

The reasons for the Recommendation(s) included:-

• That the proposed amendment provided a proportionate and time-limited extension to existing transitional arrangements following the introduction of the Greater Manchester Private Hire Support Fund.
• That the extension would support affected vehicle proprietors in accessing available grant funding, securing replacement vehicles and achieving compliance with the Council's adopted emissions standards whilst maintaining the Council's commitment to improving air quality and reducing transport emissions.

Delegated decision:

That the Licensing and Safety Committee agreed to:-

1. Considered and adopted the following amendment to the existing emissions compliance arrangements and recommended approval by Full Council:
2. For existing proprietors of licensed private hire vehicles which do not meet the Council's adopted emissions standards:

·       To permit a vehicle proprietor whose private hire vehicle licence falls due for renewal after 4 January 2027 and whose vehicle does not meet the required emissions standard (Euro 4 Petrol or Euro 6 Diesel) to apply to renew that vehicle licence. Where the vehicle successfully passes the Council's compliance testing requirements, a vehicle licence may be granted subject to a condition requiring the vehicle to be removed from service and replaced with a compliant vehicle no later than 31 May 2027.

·       To delegate authority to the Head of Public Protection, Licensing Unit Manager and/or Deputy Licensing Officer to take appropriate enforcement action, including suspension, revocation or refusal to renew a licence, where a proprietor fails to comply with the condition requiring replacement of a non-compliant vehicle by 31 May 2027, having regard to the circumstances of each individual case and the relevant provisions of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.

3.    Recommend the proposed amendment to Full Council for approval.