Taxis not licensed locally should be banned in Greater Manchester as this could help keep our air clean, the government has been told. The city-region will seek a commitment from the government in its upcoming talks about further devolution to introduce new regulations enforcing the ban.
Currently, cabs which are licensed elsewhere can be booked by customers in Greater Manchester even if they do not meet the standards of local councils. The 10 local authorities in the city-region have been looking to introduce joint minimum licensing standards for all taxis and private hire vehicles, bringing the rules for drivers, vehicles and operators in all boroughs in line with each other.
This includes requiring frequent criminal record checks of drivers, testing their English language proficiency and creating a common colour for all local taxis. However, the roll out of the minimum licensing standards was halted after the introduction of a Clean Air Zone - which would also affect taxis - was delayed.
It followed a public backlash which led the government to push back the deadline by which local councils must bring air pollution below legal limits. Greater Manchester is due to submit a revised scheme which aims to achieve air quality compliance no later than the new deadline of 2026 on Friday.
Unlike the previous plan which would have seen the most polluting vans, lorries, buses and taxis charged a daily penalty for using the city-region's roads, the new proposal would not involve charging any vehicles at all. Instead, buses, lorries and taxis which do not comply with emission standards would be offered cash for vehicle upgrades using government-funded grants.
However, in a letter to local leaders earlier this month, environment secretary George Eustice suggested still charging, but in Manchester city centre only. Greater Manchester's case has been set out in a draft proposal published ahead of a Air Quality Administration Committee meeting on Friday.
The document also explains how banning out-of-area private hire bookings would help councils control pollution levels locally and keep the air clean. It argues that such a move would give local authorities 'stronger regulatory tools' to improve the emission standards of taxis operating in the city-region.
The draft document says: "As it stands, out-of-area operation enables the evasion of fair, safe and democratically determined local licensing standards, which undermines public safety as well as local measures to progressively improve up driver and vehicle standards. In context of the [Greater Manchester Clean Air Plan], the ability to provide local licensing standards would help to improve the emission standards of taxis operating in Greater Manchester whilst providing incentives to upgrade non-compliant vehicles. This complementary measure would provide more certainty in Greater Manchester’s ability to meet required [NO2] exceedance levels."
What do you think? Have your say in the comments
The document confirms that Greater Manchester is looking to secure a commitment from the government to devise 'an appropriate regulatory approach' that will will legally require that all private hire journeys within the Greater Manchester boundary must be undertaken by a driver and vehicle which are both licensed by one of the 10 local authorities in the city-region. This will discussed during the upcoming devolution 'trailblazer' talks.
The document says: "The effect would be to ensure that private hire operators with a license to operate in one or more of the ten Greater Manchester local authorities will be required to serve any intra Greater Manchester journey request with a locally licensed driver and locally licensed vehicle."
The Air Quality Administration Committee will be asked to confirm this draft submission as final on Friday and notify the Secretary of State accordingly, subject to any comments from the 10 local authorities of Greater Manchester. The committee will also be asked to agree that the next stage of the new plan is developed through 'intensive engagement' with business and the public.
Read more of today's top stories here
READ NEXT:
