Agenda item

A report from the Executive Director (Operations) is attached.

The Executive Director (Operations) submitted a report advising Members of common minimum licensing standards.

The Head of Public Protection outlined the work that had been undertaken by the Greater Manchester Licensing Network, Transport for Greater Manchester and Bury Council in relation to Common Minimum Licensing Standards for hackney carriage and private hire vehicle licensing. The report detailed the consultation that had taken place and feedback and comments received. The standards detailed in the report relate to licensed drivers, licensed private hire operators and the local authority and the proposals and recommendations made in the report are designed to ensure a safe, visible, accessible and high-quality hackney and private hire service. 

Members had already been provided with a summary of the GM wide public consultation that took place between 8^th October and 3^rd December 2020 in Stage 1 Report.

The officer advised that across Greater Manchester there were monthly meetings with trade and union representatives to update and reflect on the work being undertaken. Twelve briefings were held for representatives at GM level in MLS and clean air. There were also 25 briefing sessions for all trade sectors affected by clean air and at local level a number of local briefings were held and various communication methods used to notify all affected that consultation was underway including emails, newsletters and contact via operator bases. 

The Chair then addressed the meeting to ask if there were any public questions on this agenda topic.

Mr Warraich asked about stickers for vehicles and stated that at the moment they were free to obtain and therefore he felt that the proposals that these would have to be purchased, should be rejected.

The Head of Public Protection responded and advised that the stickers would be provided at cost and that a Greater Manchester wide procurement exercise would be undertaken and a single print company would provide the stickers, in an effort to keep costs to a minimum.

Mr Warraich again raised the issue regarding the instance of a driver reportedly wearing shorts and asked for the evidence. The Chair reiterated what had previously been stated that this was from an individual complaint.

Mr Warraich stated that he felt that the minimum standards would attract cross border drivers working in Bury and cited the example of Wolverhampton.

The Head of Public protection stated that the intention was to increase standards and that the Council and officers want a change in legislation to prevent cross border drivers coming to Bury. The Licensing Unit Manager also referred to the fact that previously all operators in Bury had agreed not to employ those licensed outside the borough but that this had now changed.

In response to a further question on this matter by Mr Mahmood, the Chair also referred to the fact that the proposed standards largely mirror those set out in DoT Guidance and that the proposals are to increase standards and are for consistency.

Mr Mahmood questioned the percentage figures in the report and wondered how many people these referred to. The Chair referred him to the content of the report.

At this stage of the meeting all the time allocated to public questions had been used.

A discussion took place on previous allegations of missiles being thrown at taxis and after talks with GMP, this had resulted in the bonnet stickers being deferred so further work could be undertaken with the police and the taxi trade.

Members asked about the number of stickers a taxi would require and a professional service to place stickers on vehicles may be required by the driver. The Licensing Unit Manager reported that there would be less stickers required than now although at a cost and it would be the driver’s responsibility to place them on the vehicle. This is because the current position is there is an operator’s sticker and another whereas the proposal is to combine these into one. It was also noted that the dimensions are yet to be decided.

Members also discussed a single colour vehicle in the future and it was reported that there was no timescale on this element. There were also some concerns raised by Members of the committee about the potential for losing drivers and also the potential creation of a single licensing authority being created across Greater Manchester. The Licensing Unit Manager and Council Solicitor both advised that this would need a change in legislation as each borough is a licensing authority for these purposes in its own right. The Chair also confirmed that some matters will be the subject of future reports and therefore further future debate.

Delegated decision:

That the Committee noted the report and recommends that Council approve and adopt the following;

·         The recommendations presented in Section 4 (Lead Officer Recommendations) for each proposed standard for implementation except for Vehicle Proposed Standard 5 in relation to Vehicle Livery.

·         That in relation to Vehicle Proposed Standard 5 (Vehicle Livery), Bury Council having carried out further consultation with taxi drivers and operators and following this, it’s recommended that the Council implements the following GM livery standards proposed below:

That all vehicles will:

o   display permanently affixed licence plates on the front and back of the vehicle

That all PHVs will:

o   only display stickers provided by the licensing authority (at cost) which will bear the operator name and phone number, ‘advanced bookings only’, ‘not insured unless pre-booked’ and the licensing authority logo (the design, dimensions and placement of the stickers on the vehicle is to be determined at a future date)

o   display those stickers on both rear side doors and the back window

o   not use any magnetic stickers

·         That any decision regarding the implementation of the proposed ‘GM approved’ bonnet sticker will be delayed for a period of 2 years while more work is carried out with the trade and GMP to address the concerns raised by the trade relating to antisocial behaviour.

·         That existing vehicle livery standards in Bury will be retained until the new GM livery design, dimensions and placement are confirmed and procured. Ahead of the changes, the existing lively standards will be reviewed to accommodate the GM livery.