This Council notes the piecemeal changes being proposed by the Government in the regulation of Private Hire Vehicles under the guise of Ministerial push to cut red tape and provide quick wins for business within the De-Regulation Bill currently before Parliament and that these changes are being proposed ahead of full consideration being given by Government to the Law Commission Report on Taxi and Private Hire Services, a process that commenced in 2011.

This Council notes the clauses inserted into the De-Regulation Bill which compromise public safety in relation to use of Private Hire Vehicles and in condemning these clauses reaffirms that public safety in relation to Private Hire Vehicle regulation remains the Councils primary concern.

This Council further notes the increasing use of Out of Town Licensed Hackney Carriages as Private Hire Vehicles within the Borough of Trafford by Private Hire Operators and the issues this is causing our locally licensed Private Hire and Hackney Drivers who continue to meet the high safety standards and local enforcement regulations expected of them and how this situation is compromising the safety of our public using Private Hire Vehicles.

This Council resolves to write to the Government Minister responsible expressing our opposition and concerns in regard of the three clauses pertaining to Private Hire Vehicles that have been inserted into the De-Regulation Bill.

Further this Council resolves to work closely with other Local Authorities through the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities, local representatives of the National Taxi Association and National Private Hire Association to work on a solution to the Out of Town Hackney Carriages operating as Private Hire Vehicles across wide ranges of Greater Manchester. In the interest of and so ensuring public safety in Trafford is in no way compromised this Council will develop a Communication Strategy advising Taxi users in Trafford to always request a Licensed Trafford Taxi and Driver when booking and undertaking Taxi journeys.

[Note: Prior to the debate on this item, the time being 9.12 p.m., the Mayor indicated that all speeches on the matter would be limited to a maximum of one minute per speaker.]

It was moved and seconded that:

“This Council notes the piecemeal changes being proposed by the Government in the regulation of Private Hire Vehicles under the guise of Ministerial push to cut red tape and provide quick wins for business within the De-Regulation Bill currently before Parliament and that these changes are being proposed ahead of full consideration being given by Government to the Law Commission Report on Taxi and Private Hire Services, a process that commenced in 2011.

This Council notes the clauses inserted into the De-Regulation Bill which compromise public safety in relation to use of Private Hire Vehicles and in condemning these clauses reaffirms that public safety in relation to Private Hire Vehicle regulation remains the Councils primary concern.

This Council further notes the increasing use of Out of Town Licensed Hackney Carriages as Private Hire Vehicles within the Borough of Trafford by Private Hire Operators and the issues this is causing our locally licensed Private Hire and Hackney Drivers who continue to meet the high safety standards and local enforcement regulations expected of them and how this situation is compromising the safety of our public using Private Hire Vehicles.

This Council resolves to write to the Government Minister responsible expressing our opposition and concerns in regard of the three clauses pertaining to Private Hire Vehicles that have been inserted into the De-Regulation Bill.

Further this Council resolves to work closely with other Local Authorities through the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities, local representatives of the National Taxi Association and National Private Hire Association to work on a solution to the Out of Town Hackney Carriages operating as Private Hire Vehicles across wide ranges of Greater Manchester. In the interest of and so ensuring public safety in Trafford is in no way compromised this Council will develop a Communication Strategy advising Taxi users in Trafford to always request a Licensed Trafford Taxi and Driver when booking and undertaking Taxi journeys.”

It was moved and seconded as an amendment that:

This Council notes the proposed changes by the government in the regulation of Private Hire Vehicles in order to cut red tape and provide an incentive for business within the Deregulation Bill currently before Parliament and that these changes are proposed before the Law Commission Report on Taxi and Private Hire Services which is on-going.

This Council notes the clauses inserted into the Deregulation Bill which could compromise public safety in relation to use of Private Hire vehicles and re-affirms that public safety in relation to Private Hire vehicle registration remains the Council’s primary concern.

This Council further notes the increasing use of out of town Licensed Hackney Carriages as Private Hire Vehicles within the Borough of Trafford by Private Hire Operators and the issues this is causing our locally Licensed Private Hire and Hackney Drivers who continue to meet the high safety standards and local enforcement regulations expected of them and how this situation might compromise the safety of our public using Private Hire Vehicles.

This Council resolves to write to the Government Minister responsible, expressing our specific concerns in regard to the three clauses pertaining to Private Hire Vehicles that have been inserted into the Deregulation Bill.

Further, this Council resolves to continue to work closely with other local Authorities through the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities, with local representatives of the National Taxi Association and National Private Hire Association to work on a solution to the Out Of Town Hackney Carriages operating as Private Hire Vehicles across wide ranges of Greater Manchester. Should the local taxi and private hire trade decide to organise a campaign to promote the use of local companies and drivers, the Council will consider supporting that campaign in an appropriate manner, e.g. social media, Council website.

The mover of the Motion signified acceptance of the amendment, which was then put to the vote and agreed unanimously. Consequently, the substantive Motion was declared carried.

RESOLVED: That this Council notes the proposed changes by the government in the regulation of Private Hire Vehicles in order to cut red tape and provide an incentive for business within the Deregulation Bill currently before Parliament and that these changes are proposed before the Law Commission Report on Taxi and Private Hire Services which is on-going.

This Council notes the clauses inserted into the Deregulation Bill which could compromise public safety in relation to use of Private Hire vehicles and re-affirms that public safety in relation to Private Hire vehicle registration remains the Council’s primary concern.

This Council further notes the increasing use of out of town Licensed Hackney Carriages as Private Hire Vehicles within the Borough of Trafford by Private Hire Operators and the issues this is causing our locally Licensed Private Hire and Hackney Drivers who continue to meet the high safety standards and local enforcement regulations expected of them and how this situation might compromise the safety of our public using Private Hire Vehicles.

This Council resolves to write to the Government Minister responsible, expressing our specific concerns in regard to the three clauses pertaining to Private Hire Vehicles that have been inserted into the Deregulation Bill.

Further, this Council resolves to continue to work closely with other local Authorities through the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities, with local representatives of the National Taxi Association and National Private Hire Association to work on a solution to the Out Of Town Hackney Carriages operating as Private Hire Vehicles across wide ranges of Greater Manchester. Should the local taxi and private hire trade decide to organise a campaign to promote the use of local companies and drivers, the Council will consider supporting that campaign in an appropriate manner, e.g. social media, Council website.