Agenda item

Consideration was given to a report from the Principal Licensing Officer, which provided Members with an update on Licensing matters.

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

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

·         To ensure safe passenger journeys, in safe licensed vehicles with safe licensed drivers

It was noted that there had been one further application considered by the Licensing Premises Panel since the previous Committee meeting. Officers continued to work with the Private Hire and Hackney Carriage trade to ensure effective communication and consultation took place. Officers continued to hold trade forum meetings which included Members of the Licensing Committee and representatives of 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 the last Committee Hearing, 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. There had been no emergency delegated decisions taken by the Trading Standards and Licensing Manager since the last Committee.

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. The Government had now responded to request further evidence which will not be considered until July 2023.

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 30^th June 2023.

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. It was the view of the Officers that no further extensions should be granted, as no assurances funds had been received for non-compliant vehicles would be released and there were concerns that older vehicles continued to breach emission standards and added to pollution levels.

There continued to be regular changes to legislation and guidance affecting licensing together with consultations the summaries of which were detailed below:

·         Awaiting consultation on the Governments levelling up agenda to review to the number of taxi licensing authorities;

·         Awaiting release of the Governments Taxi and Private Hire best practice guidance following consultation earlier this year, it was due to be released before Christmas 2022, however it had been delayed and no release date was known;

·         Continuing to work with GM colleagues to deliver minimum licensing standards.

Projects underway or due to start in the coming months

included:

·         The revised Statement of Fitness and Suitability was approved by the Committee in November 2022,

·         Assessing the impact of the GM clean air plan on the licensing policy

·         Reviewing hackney carriage ranks, licence release policy and unmet demand.

RESOLVED that:

1.    The report be noted.

2.    No further extension be granted to the temporary extensions to vehicles past 30^th June 2023.