Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 15 December 2021.

The minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 15 December 2021 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Councillors and officers to declare any interests which they have in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

Councillors and Officers were invited to declare any interest that they had in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

No declarations of interest were made.

To report any urgent action taken under the Constitution since the last meeting of the Committee.

No urgent decisions were reported.

Members of the public are invited to put questions to the Chair and members of the Committee on any matters within the powers and duties of the Committee, subject to the exclusions set out in the Code of Practice. (Questions must be submitted prior to the commencement of the meeting on the cards provided.  These are available at the meeting).

No public questions were submitted.

To consider a report of the Director of Place Management.

The report presents Members with a set of recommendations relating to Stage 2 of the Greater Manchester Minimum Taxi Licensing Standards for Hackney and Private Hire Vehicles.

The Committee is requested to:

1.1      The Committee is asked to consider the summary of recommendations contained in this report, and also the more in-depth GM Licensing Officer group Lead Officer’s report which provides further background and rationale.

1.2      Officers provide a note of caution that some time has passed since the initial consultation and proposal of standards were developed. The Hackney and Private Hire sector is a rapidly changing environment both locally and nationally, along with uncertainty around the Clean Air Plan and associated funding. Therefore officers recommend that the content of these standards remain under constant review with colleagues across GM. This enables current standards to be implemented whilst allowing officers to respond to any issues that may arise from within the industry and bring them back to Members for further consideration. Where there is sufficient rationale standards can be relaxed or strengthened. This has been true of the project so far where some authorities have chosen to relax standards as they relate to existing licensees until outcome of Clean Air Plan review is known.

1.3      The Committee is asked resolve to approve the recommendations, as they apply to ‘new to licence vehicles’.

1.4      Officers request sufficient time for implementation of these standards, as from 7^th July 2022 and outlined in Table A in Section 4 of this report.

Officer contact: Sarah Tooth Tel 0161 474 4176 Email: sarah.tooth@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Director of Place Management submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which presented Members with a set of recommendations relating to Stage 2 of the Greater Manchester Minimum Taxi Licensing Standards for Hackney and Private Hire Vehicles.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         Following a member question, a short discussion took place in relation to the age limit on vehicles and the impact of this on the current fleet.

·         Members asked about the uptake on the GM clean air grants on Hackney vehicles.  In response, the Committee was advised that funding on this had been paused.  An announcement on this was expected shortly.

·         Members asked whether there was a risk that existing vehicles that are already on the fleet would be kept on the fleet longer than their natural life?    In response, the Committee was advised that this will be reviewed on twice yearly inspections also.  Drivers also have a responsibility on this on their daily inspections. This was felt to be an important issue so Members requested that they were kept up to date on this.

·         Charging points on ranks for electric vehicles was also going to be necessary.

·         Members requested an age profile of all the vehicles that were currently on the rank.

·         A short discussion took place on the ambition to have a single colour for private hire vehicles, particularly in view of the fact that vehicles licensed in Stockport could operate in other areas.

·         In response to a Member question, Members were advised that there was currently no intention to centralise testing at the moment.

·         Members raised the issue of human rights, privacy and GDPR in relation to CCTV in vehicles and whether this could be taken into account when the policy was drafted.

·         Members were assured that consultation had taken place with existing drivers and trade associations and they were generally supportive of the new measures in relation to new vehicles.  Discussions would be ongoing.

RESOLVED – (i) That the report be noted.

(ii) That the recommendations contained in the report be approved, as they apply to ‘new to licence vehicles’.

(iii) That officers be granted sufficient time for implementation of these standards, as from 7^th July 2022 and outlined in Table A in Section 4 of this report.

To consider a verbal report of the Director of Place Management.

The report updates Members on the Hackney Carriage Fare Review.

The Committee is requested to note and comment on the verbal report.

Officer contact: Sarah Tooth Tel 0161 474 4176 Email: sarah.tooth@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Director of Place Management presented a verbal report which updated Members on the Hackney Carriage Fare Review.

RESOLVED – That the verbal report be noted.

To consider a report of the Director of Place Management.

The report asks Members to consider an application from Wyldecrest Parks (Management) Limited to vary the Caravan Licence held at Castle Hill Park, Mill Lane, Woodley, Stockport SK6 1QQ.

The Committee is requested to:

1.1      Determine the application to vary the licence at Castle Hill Park, taking into account that planning permission does not permit this.

1.2      Members are asked to reject the application until such time as the appropriate planning permission has been granted.

1.3      Due to the fact that this limit is already conditioned as part of the current planning permission, officers recommend that Condition 2 is removed from the Caravan licence conditions and the limit be referred to on the front of the licence only.

1.4      Given the age of the licence and the associated conditions, officers recommend a full review of the remaining conditions in consultation with the licence holder, residents and statutory consultees, and the matter be brought back for further consideration by Members.

Officer contact: Sarah Tooth Tel 0161 474 4176 Email: sarah.tooth@stockport.gov.uk

With the consent of the Chair, this Item was withdrawn.