Issue - meetings

Consideration was given to a report of the Trading Standards and Licensing Manager which advised the Committee of key updates and requested approval for revisions to existing standards in relation to vehicle plates and temporary vehicle extensions.

Members were advised of the two strategic objectives that related to Licensing which were:

1.    To work with businesses to ensure they were licensed and compliant.

2.    To ensure safe passenger journeys, in safe licensed vehicles with safe licensed drivers

It was noted that there had been a total of two applications considered by the Licensing Premises Panel since 1^st April 2022. Officers continued to work with the Private Hire & Hackney Carriage trade to ensure effective communication and consultation took place.  The Licensing team had held several trade forum meetings so far this year and had improved on existing communications by including relevant officers from Moorhey Street Testing Station.

Members were provided with details of the number of existing licences currently in force. The Licensing Driver Panel continued to sit monthly to hear applications for taxi licences, renewal or reviews of existing licences where offences, misconduct or any other relevant matter arises. Since 1^st April 2022 there had been a total of 10 determinations by the Panel which were broken down to members and set out in section 2.6 of the report. In addition, there had been 8 emergency delegated decisions taken where driver licences had been revoked with immediate effect by the Trading Standards & Licensing Manager. 

Members had previously been updated on GM Minimum Licensing Standards and had approved changes to the Taxi Licensing Policy to encompass recommendations as a result of the consultation on those standards, which were originally intended to dovetail with the GM Clean Air Plan. The Clean Air Plan was currently paused. The plan for Greater Manchester was sent to the Government in July this year, with the suggestion for a non-charging zone with funding. Authorities were still waiting to hear from the Government on the proposal.

Members had previously approved a temporary extension to licensed vehicles, whereby they could continue to be licensed beyond the maximum age limit so as to benefit from any funding released by the Government linked with the Clean Air Scheme.  GM Authorities were still waiting for a decision on the proposed plan and any funding which may become available. However, the temporary extensions to vehicles were due to come to an end on 31^st December 2022. 

Members were asked to consider a further extension for vehicles in order that they continue to be licensed pending a final decision being made by the Government. An age profile of vehicles who would or were already benefiting from a temporary extension was included at point 3.5 of the report.

Members were advised that the Licensing Authority had been working with the trade on issues surrounding anti-social behaviour and associated vehicle attacks. The trade were asked to report matters to Greater Manchester Police and were also asked to feed that information into  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6