Issue - meetings

Consideration was given to a report of the Trading Standards and Licensing Manager which sought to inform the Committee of activity and key priorities and projects within the Council’s licensing function.

The activities highlighted to the Committee included information related to Clean Air Proposals, Greater Manchester (GM) Minimum Standards, Vehicle Testing results, Panel Hearings, Licences in Force and Animal Welfare Licenses.

Members were informed that Officers were undertaking work on an outline business case to the Government in regard to the Clean Air Proposals and a consultation would be held on the proposals in the near future. There would be a focus on commercial vehicles, covering vans, HGV’s and buses. A range of measures had been shortlisted which would impact on Oldham’s taxi and private hire trades, the work done so far indicated that some form of a clean air zone would likely to be necessary to comply with the Government guidance that required nitrogen dioxide reduction in the shortest possible time.

The Greater Manchester Minimum Licensing Standards consultation had been delayed pending the funding outcomes linked to the Clean Air Proposals. It was unclear what the funding packages would entail for the ten GM licensing Authorities. Funding was in a flux due to the Parliamentary Election and subsequently the Purdah period. Members referred to Reading Borough Council and their purchase of purpose-built Hackney Carriages valued at £60K each to become compliant with the Government guidance. This was not an option for Greater Manchester as the infrastructure was not available, however, 300 extra charging points for electric vehicles would be installed around Greater Manchester. Wi-Fi enabled pads were available for use on driveways that allowed users to charge their electric vehicle without a charging point.