To consider a report of the Executive Member for Housing and Neighbourhoods recommended to Council by the Executive on 23 January 2023.

The Executive Member for Housing and Neighbourhoods submitted a report proposing amendments to the implementation date for the hackney carriage and private hire age and emissions standards for existing Trafford licensed vehicles, which were proposed as part of the Greater Manchester Minimum Licensing Standards project and adopted by Council on the 24November 2021.

The Executive considered the matter on 23 January 2023 and recommended to the Council that the compliance date be extended from 1 April 2024 to 1 April 2026.

RESOLVED –

(1)    That the implementation dates for age limits for existing licensed vehicles be amended as per Standard 2 in Table B, within section 6 of the report.

(2)    That the implementation dates for emission standards for existing licensed vehicles be amended as per Standard 3 in Table B, within section 6 of the report.

(3)    That the decision to further amend the implementation dates for age limits and emission standards for existing licensed vehicles, as per Standard 2 and Standard 3 in Table C, within section 6 of the report, be delegated to the Corporate Director of Place, in consultation with the Executive Member for Housing and Neighbourhoods, should there be further delays to the introduction of the Clean Air Plan and the taxi funding support package and it would not be appropriate to introduce the implementation dates in Table B of the report.

To consider a report of the Executive Member for Housing and Neighbourhoods.

1)    That the report be noted.

2)    That the Executive recommends Council approves the following;

·       That the implementation dates for age limits for existing licensed vehicles are amended as per Standard 2 in Table B, within section 6 of the report;

·       That the implementation dates for emission standards for existing licensed vehicles are amended as per Standard 3 in Table B, within section 6 of the report;

·       That the decision to further amend the implementation dates for age limits and emission standards for existing licensed vehicles, as per Standard 2 and Standard 3 in Table C, within section 6 of the report, are delegated to the Corporate Director, Place in consultation with the Executive Member for Housing and Neighbourhoods, where there are further delays to the introduction of the Clean Air Plan and the taxi funding support package, and it would not be appropriate to introduce the implementation dates in Table B of the report.

The Executive Member for Environmental Services introduced the report on behalf of the Executive Member for Housing and Neighbourhoods. The Executive Member for Environmental Services provided a brief explanation of what was covered within the report and which drivers would be impacted by the changes before opening the floor for questions.

Councillor Whetton asked what percentage of the cars impacted by the changes came from outside of the borough to operate within the area. The Corporate Director of Place responded that the Council were unable to provide that information as the Council did not have powers to make out of borough drivers report into Trafford.

Councillor Blackburn asked for the Executive to continue to push for swivel chairs to be fitted within black cabs as they were proven to be very useful for those who had limited mobility.

Following the discussion, the Leader moved the recommendations of the report, and they were approved.

RESOLVED:

1)    That the report be noted.

2)    That the Executive recommends Council approves the following;

·       That the implementation dates for age limits for existing licensed vehicles are amended as per Standard 2 in Table B, within section 6 of the report;

·       That the implementation dates for emission standards for existing licensed vehicles are amended as per Standard 3 in Table B, within section 6 of the report;

·       That the decision to further amend the implementation dates for age limits and emission standards for existing licensed vehicles, as per Standard 2 and Standard 3 in Table C, within section 6 of the report, are delegated to the Corporate Director, Place in consultation with the Executive Member for Housing and Neighbourhoods, where there are further delays to the introduction of the Clean Air Plan and the taxi funding support package, and it would not be appropriate to introduce the implementation dates in Table B of the report.