Agenda and decisions

Minutes of the meeting held on the 27^th July 2021.

The report of the Lead Member for Environment, Neighbourhoods and Community Safety.

Salford City Council - Record of Decision (Cabinet)

I, Councillor Tracy Kelly, Statutory Deputy Salford City Mayor, in exercise of the powers contained within the City Council Constitution do hereby approve:

The adoption of the proposals for Greater Manchester Minimum Licensing Standards for hackney carriages and private hire vehicles as they relate to licensed drivers, licensed operators and the local authority (Stage 1).

The Reasons are:

The adoption of the proposed standards will

·         deliver improved standards in relation to driver and operator standards in order to provide the public with safe, visible and high-quality taxi and private hire services,

·         help to achieve a greater level of consistency across GM taxi and private hire licensing regulation including licensing authority service delivery.

Additionally, the adoption of the proposed standards will contribute to the broader objectives of improving and integrating the transport system as a whole across Salford and Greater Manchester and the achievement of Greater Manchester’s clean air and carbon reduction goals.

Options considered and rejected were:

To reject the proposed minimum licensing standards and review Salford’s existing Taxi Licensing policy independently of neighbouring local authorities.

Assessment of Risk: Low. The costs impacts of the adoption of the minimum standards relating to licensed drivers and operators under Stage 1 are minimal. The majority of the requirements relating to drivers and operators are already reflected in full or part in Salford’s existing Licensing policy and processes.

The source of funding is:

The regulation of Private Hire Vehicles and Hackney Carriages is required by statute to be funded from license fees based on cost recovery.

Legal Advice obtained: Barbara Gora, Manchester and Salford Shared Legal Services

The Licensing Authority Salford City Council has the right to amend its Taxi Licensing Policy.

Financial Advice obtained: N/A

Procurement Advice obtained: N/A

HR Advice obtained: N/A

Climate Change Advice obtained: N/A

The following documents have been used to assist the decision process:

· 25 June 2021, report to GMCA: MLS Update

· 31 July 2020, report to GMCA: MLS Consultation

· 29 May 2020, report to GMCA: Clean Air Plan Update

(if the documents disclose exempt or confidential information, they should not be listed, but the following wording shall be inserted : "(The relevant documents contain exempt or confidential information and are not available for public inspection)":-

Contact Officer:  Timothy Cook                            

Telephone number: 0161 925 1037

(Please delete from the list below any which are not relevant).

The appropriate scrutiny to call-in the decision is the Community and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Panel.

For Democratic Services use only

This decision was published on  28.09.21                                           

This decision will come in force at 4.00 p.m. on 05.10.21                                                   unless it is called-in in accordance with the Decision Making Process Rules.