LICENSING RULES REFORMS


BURY COUNCIL TO CONSULT ON HACKNEY CARRIAGE AND PRIVATE HIRE POLICY REVISIONS


Following a meeting of Bury Council’s Licensing and Safety Committee held on on Thursday 20 July, the following was decided in relation to two of the agenda items.


Consultation – Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy Revisions


Members considered a report in relation to hackney carriage and private hire policy revisions and members have resolved to request that officers of the Licensing Service undertake a public consultation in respect of these revisions. The revisions of policy relate to the following matters:-


1. To modify the requirement for Operator stickers on private hire vehicles to


replace existing 2. To


operator signage with new passenger side windscreen signage (w10.5cm x h8.5cm) indicating operator, which must be updated and changed to reflect operator. remove


requirement for bonnet stickers on private hire vehicles.


3. To modify the requirement for the current rear passenger door sticker “Private hire vehicle (not a taxi) The driver can only take passengers who have


pre-


booked with this company”, to be replaced with a new council issued sticker which is to be displayed on the rear door of a private hire vehicle stating, “Private hire vehicle not insured unless pre booked with operator” (magnetic signage is not permitted)


4. To modify the current PHTM AUGUST 2023


knowledge test for hackney carriage and private hire drivers.


5. To modify the requirement from ‘mandatory’ to ‘advisory’ for the provision of a fire extinguisher and first aid kit and modify the council’s vehicle compliance testing manual.


6. To remove the requirement for front plates on hackney carriage and private hire vehicles and replace with council issued windscreen signage which must be displayed at all times.


7. To remove the pre-requisite


requirement of driving standards assessment before making an application to the Licensing Authority.


8. To introduce a re-application policy in relation to breaks in licence for the pre-requisites and Knowledge tests only.


the future


The proposed public consultation will take place for a six-week period between the 7 August until the 15 September 2023. Following the closure of the consultation, a report will be placed before the council’s Licensing and Safety Committee for consideration at it’s meeting on the 19 October 2023. Drivers and operators are requested to please take the time to respond to the consultation as this is your opportunity to put your views across to the council in respect of the proposed revisions outlined above. The Licensing Service will discuss the reviews of policy and the consultation at the next Trade Liaison Meeting which is scheduled to take place in August 2023.


Vehicle and Private Hire Operator Licence Fee Increases


Drivers and operators in Bury have protested rises in licence fees which they


say makes it


‘increasingly hard’ for them to operate. Trade leaders say fees charged in the borough are higher than those in Wolverhampton, where many drivers register and then work in Bury. Earlier this year figures showed that there were 4,049, private hire drivers licensed with the City of Wolverhampton Council who were registered at the time of their application as being in Greater Manchester. In February,


Bury Council


approved increases in fees and charges for 2023/2024. The new charging regime should have come into operation on May 4 but was delayed due to opposition from drivers and operators. However, at the meeting of the council’s Licensing and Safety Committee on 20 July, members considered the objection sub- mitted by Bury Private Hire Drivers Association in relation to the fee increase. Members resolved to increase the fees to the following with immediate effect:-


• Vehicles under 3 years old - £260 (£200 plus £60 for one compliance test)


• Vehicles over 3 years old - £320 (£200 plus £120 for two compliance tests)


• Private hire operators 1-2 vehicles (one year) - £315.00


• Private hire operators 3 or more vehicles (one year) - £450.00


23


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