Issue - meetings

GREATER MANCHESTER MINIMUM LICENSING STANDARDS FOR TAXI AND PRIVATE HIRE STAGE 1

Meeting: 13/10/2021 - Council (Item 35)

35 Greater Manchester Minimum Licensing Standards for Taxi and Private Hire Stage 1 pdf icon PDF 408 KB

To consider a report of the Executive Member for Environmental and Regulatory Services recommended by the Executive on 27 September 2021.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Executive Member for Environmental and Regulatory Services submitted a report setting out the proposed Greater Manchester Minimum Licensing Standards for Taxi and Private Hire which had been referred from the Executive meeting on 27 September 2021. The report represented Stage One of the Standards which relate to Drivers, Operators and Local Authorities and set out the responses to the recent public and trade consultation for Stage One and outlined the proposed standards, policies and procedures. Stage Two related to Vehicles and it was anticipated that those proposals would be reported to the Executive in October 2021.

 

Councillor Miss Blackburn referred to Standard 6 Driver Training (page 33 of the report) and Councillor Adshead indicated that he would reply directly regarding the frequency of the training and what would happen should a driver refuse the training and whether the relevant authority would be notified of refusal by a driver from outside the area.

 

        RESOLVED:

 

(1)    That Enhanced Criminal Record checks be undertaken as per Driver Standard 1 in table A of the report.

 

(2)    That Medical Checks be undertaken as per Driver Standard 2 in table A of the report.

 

(3)    That assessments of English proficiency be undertaken as per Driver Standard 4 in table A of the report.

 

(4)    That driver proficiency tests be implemented as per Driver Standard 5 in table A of the report.

 

(5)    That driver training is undertaken as per Driver Standard 6 in table A of the report.

 

(6)    That the Licensed Drivers Dress Code, set out at Appendix 1 to the report, be approved.

 

(7)    That the Private Hire Driver Conditions Policy, set out at Appendix 2 to the report, be approved.

 

(8)    That the Private Hire Operator Conditions Policy, set out at Appendix 3 to the report be approved and that Council notes the proposed amendments to Operator Conditions set out at Appendix 4.

 

(9)    That Enhanced Criminal Record checks for Operators and their staff be undertaken as per Operator Standard 2 in table B of the report.

 

(10)  That the timescales for applications be adopted, as per Local Authority Standard 1 in Table C of the report.

(11)  That the development of a common enforcement approach be approved, as per Local Authority Standard 2 in Table C of the report.

 

(12) That a common methodology for setting the costs and calculating the taxi and private hire fees be adopted, as per Local Authority Standard 3 in Table C of the report.

 

(13)  That the Council delegates decision making powers, as per Local Authority Standard 5 in Table C of the report.

 

(14)  That the implementation dates for standards, policies and procedures contained within the report, be delegated to the Corporate Director of Place, in consultation with the Executive Member for Environment and Regulatory Services, with consideration of the need to communicate changes to the trade and ensure that processes are in place to ensure the robust implementation of the standards.

 

 

 


Meeting: 27/09/2021 - Executive (Item 32)

32 GREATER MANCHESTER MINIMUM LICENSING STANDARDS FOR TAXI AND PRIVATE HIRE STAGE 1 pdf icon PDF 408 KB

To consider a report of the Executive Member for Environmental and Regulatory Services, for information and recommendation to Council.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Executive Member for Environmental and Regulatory Servicessubmitted a report which set out the proposed Greater Manchester Minimum Licensing Standards for Taxi and Private Hire.  It represented Stage One of the Standards which relate to Drivers, Operators and Local Authorities.  Stage Two related to Vehicles and these proposals would be reported to the Executive in October.  The current report set out the responses to the recent public and trade consultation for Stage One, and outlined the proposed standards, policies and procedures which would be considered by Council on 13th October 2021. In discussion there was a very broad welcome for the proposals and the contribution they would make to personal safety in what was an integral part of the region’s transport system. Whilst some disappointment was expressed that it was not possible under existing legislation to restrict the operation of drivers who had been licensed under less stringent regimes, it was noted that the Council would continue to lobby Government on the issue; and also that publicity and awareness of the Greater Manchester scheme would allow customers to make informed choices regarding the operator they selected.

 

RESOLVED -

 

(1)       That the feedback be noted from the recent public and trade consultation on the proposed Greater Manchester Minimum Licensing Standards for Taxi and Private Hire.

 

(2)       That it be recommended to Council that Enhanced Criminal Record checks are undertaken as per Driver Standard 1 in table A of the report.

 

(3)       That it be recommended to Council that Medical Checks are undertaken as per Driver Standard 2 in table A of the report.

 

(4)       That it be recommended to Council that assessments of English proficiency are undertaken as per Driver Standard 4 in table A of the report.

 

(5)       That it be recommended to Council that driver proficiency tests are implemented as per Driver Standard 5 in table A of the report.

 

(6)       That it be recommended to Council that driver training is undertaken as per Driver Standard 6 in table A of the report.

 

(7)       That it be recommended to Council that it approves the Licensed Drivers Dress Code, at Appendix 1 to the report.

 

(8)       That it be recommended to Council that it approves the Private Hire Driver Conditions Policy at Appendix 2 to the report.

 

(9)       That it be noted that a further report on alcohol and drug testing for taxi drivers will be forthcoming in 2022.

 

(10)     That it be recommended to Council that it approves the Private Hire Operator Conditions Policy at Appendix 3 to the report and notes the Appendix 4 proposed amendments to Operator Conditions.

 

(11)     That it be recommended to Council that Enhanced Criminal Record checks for Operators and their staff be undertaken as per Operator Standard 2 in table B of the report.

 

(12)     That it be recommended to Council to adopt the timescales for applications as per Local Authority Standard 1 in Table C of the report.

 

(13)     That it be recommended to Council to approve the development  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32