You Said We Did - Policies and Conditions Relating to Hackney & Private Hire Vehicles and Drivers' L

We Asked

In 2018, Greater Manchester’s ten local authorities agreed to collectively develop a common set of minimum licensing standards for Taxi and Private Hire services that covered the whole of Greater Manchester. At that time, the primary driver for this work was to improve public safety, but vehicle age and emission standards in the context of the Clean Air Plan also became major considerations.

The Council adopted Stage 1 of the Minimum Licensing Standards at Full Council on 5 October 2021. Stage 2 was approved on 7 December 2021, as a result these standards became the Council’s Policy. At present, these standards are still not fully adopted or implemented across Greater Manchester. Only seven districts (including Tameside) fully adopted Stage 2.

On 17 November 2023, the Department for Transport issued updated taxi and private hire vehicle licensing best practice guidance for Licensing Authorities. This guidance departs significantly from the Minimum Licensing Standards agreed across Greater Manchester, particularly around the vehicle age and private hire sticker policies.

With the ever-changing industry, continued licence shopping impacting many licensing authorities, and without final completion of Stage 1 and 2 of the Minimum Licensing Standards project being achieved some Greater Manchester districts have already felt compelled to review their position and depart from policies they had previously approved.

Another major factor in the requirement to review policies is the growth of licence holders seeking to obtain licence from out of area Licensing Authorities. Licensing Authorities can only take enforcement action against their own licensees, they have no control over vehicles and drivers operating in their district which are licensed by out of area Licensing Authorities.

In June 2023, during one of the regular trade liaison meetings, Tameside Owners and Drivers Association requested that the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy and licence conditions be updated to remedy issues which had been raised.

There is a strong intention, across Greater Manchester that all 10 authorities retain a consistent position with regards to the emissions policy. This would ensure that access to any funds is fair and equitable, and to mitigate against an increased risk of licence shopping between the GM authorities

You Said

A consultation took place between 12 August 2024 and the 23 September 2024. The consultation was developed and hosted online on the Council’s ‘Big Conversation’ webpage. The survey was promoted on the Council’s social media platforms and through direct emails and letters to stakeholders, including all licensed drivers, proprietors and operators.

81.37% of respondents to the survey identified themselves as the “holder of driver, vehicle or operator licence with Tameside Council”, and 14.7% as “a member of the public”.

In regard to the questions asked, the responses were as follows:

Question	Most Popular Response
To what extent do you agree that vehicles which have previously been written off (Category S and Category N) and then repaired, should be issued a licence to be used as a private hire or hackney carriage vehicle?	Strongly Agree (59.54%)
To what extent do you agree that applicants should be required to complete a practical driving assessment in order to be a private hire & hackney carriage driver?	Strongly Agree (67.56%)
To what extent do you agree that the Council should continue to test new private hire and hackney carriage drivers on their knowledge of the local area?	Strongly Agree (71.26%)
The taxi trade have requested that the Council consider increasing the oncoming maximum age limit for new to licence private hire and hackney carriage vehicles, to 10 years of age. To what extent do you agree with this proposal?	Strongly Agree (78.71%)
The taxi trade have requested that the maximum age limit for licensed vehicles be increased to: 12 years of age for non-wheelchair accessible private hire vehicles. 15 years of age for wheelchair accessible private hire and hackney carriage vehicles. To what extent do you agree with this proposal?	Strongly Agree (75.19%)
Currently, private hire and hackney carriage vehicles are required to display a licence plate at the front and rear of the vehicle. This is so a licensed vehicle can be easily identified from both the front and rear. The taxi trade have requested that the requirement to display a plate at the front of the vehicle is removed. To what extent do you agree with this proposal?	Strongly Agree (74.90%)
To what extent do you agree that the mandatory requirement to display signs relating to the operating system the vehicle is working on, should be removed?	Strongly Agree (76.05%)
There is currently a mandatory requirement that a first aid kit be carried in licensed vehicles. The taxi trade have requested that this requirement is removed. To what extent do you agree with this proposal?	Strongly Agree (61.83%)
The Council has received a request to allow private hire vehicles which are black in colour, to be licensed. (This would not apply if the same model of vehicle was also licensed as a Hackney Carriage. In this case the private hire version would have to be any colour except black) To what extent do you agree with this proposal?	Strongly Agree (74.81%)

We Did

Section	Amendment
Displaying Front Plates	No amendment to the current policy
Mandatory Operator Stickers	The mandatory requirement for Operator door signage, remain in place. The requirement to display a rear passenger door sticker (on each rear door), issued by the Council, stating “Private hire vehicle not insured unless booked with a private hire operator” to remain in place.
Vehicle Age Policy – New Vehicles	The minimum age requirement for vehicles coming on to fleet be increased to 10 years old. The vehicle can come on to fleet, if it is less than 10 years old and providing it is Euro 4 Petrol, or Euro 6 Diesel emission compliant.
Hackney Carriage Vehicle Age Policy – Maximum Age	The maximum age limit be suspended until 31 December 2026. After this date, any Hackney Carriage vehicle licence which is renewed will require the vehicle to be less than 15 years old.
Topographical Test	Current geographical element of the test remains in place. Licensing will work continue to work with trade representatives to ensure the knowledge test is fit for purpose and recognises advances in technology.
Driving Proficiency Test	The requirement for new drivers to complete a driving standards assessment be removed
First Aid Kits	That the requirement for licensed vehicles to carry a first aid kit be removed.
Colour	Private hire vehicles which are black in colour to be permitted unless same model of vehicle was also licensed as a Hackney Carriage. In this case the private hire version would have to be any colour except black.
Written Off Vehicles	The policy be amended to state that vehicles which have been declared as category A, B or S write-offs will not be licensed by the Council under any circumstances. Vehicles which have been declared as category N write-offs will not be licensed by the Council unless the applicant can provide clear evidence, including photographs of the damage sustained by the vehicle before any repairs are carried out and a full and comprehensive report from a suitably qualified engineer (Member of the Institute of Automotive Engineer Assessors) stating that the vehicle provides protection to the occupants equal to the protection it provided prior to receiving the accident or other damage. It will be the responsibility of the proprietor to obtain a signed and dated certificate stating the vehicle has passed an independent examination of the repairs to confirm its roadworthiness

You Said We Did - Policies and Conditions Relating to Hackney & Private Hire Vehicles and Drivers' L

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