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

The Executive Member for Environmental and Regulatory Services submitted a report which set out the proposed Greater Manchester Minimum Licensing Standards (MLS) for Taxi and Private Hire. The report represented Stage Two of the Standards which related to Vehicles. (Stage One had related to Drivers, Operators and Local Authorities and those proposals had been reported to Executive in September.) The current report set out the responses to the recent public and trade consultation for Stage Two, and outlined the proposed standards, policies and procedures which would be considered by Council on 24^th November 2021.

In discussion Councillor Welton drew attention to issues raised by an interested party in respect of taxi vehicles providing services for disabled customers. It was noted that the issues closely related to developing proposals in relation to Greater Manchester’s Clean Air Plan; and that a full response would be given outside the meeting.

            RESOLVED -

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

(2)       That Council be recommended to approve that:

·         Wheel-chair access for licensed hackney carriage vehicles is applied as per Standard 1 in Table A of the report.

·         age limits for vehicles are applied as per Standard 2 in Table A of the report.

·         emission standards for vehicles are applied as per Standard 3 in Table A of the report

·         the standards for vehicle colour are applied as per Standard 4 in Table A of the report.

·         the standard for livery for vehicles is applied as per Standard 5 in Table A of the report.

·         the standards for vehicle testing are applied as per Standard 6 in Table A of the report

·         the provision of CCTV in vehicles is applied as per Standard 7 in Table A of the report.

·         the standards for Executive hire are applied as per Standard 8 in Table A of the report.

·         the standards for Executive hire are applied as per Standard 8 in Table A of the report.

·         vehicle design standards are applied as per Standard 9 in Table A of the report.

·         vehicle conditions are applied as per Appendix 2 of the report and Standard 10 in Table A of the report.

·         the implementation dates for standards and conditions contained within the report within Table A are applied. 

(3)       That the Equalities Impact Assessment, as set out at Appendix 3 to the report, be noted.