- Date
- 2 May 2025
- Details
-
Following the Mayors recent round table with trade representatives we have been asked to share the below with the trade representatives who were unable to attend:
The Mayor of Greater Manchester recently hosted a roundtable with taxi trade representatives to discuss issues affecting the trade in Greater Manchester, specifically;
- current legislation that permits private hire vehicles to operate 'out-of-area' anywhere in England and Wales, regardless of where they are licensed
- partial Clean Air Plan funding for hackney fleet upgrades
- affordability challenges raised by the taxi trade
- the upcoming deadline for emission standards
GM Leaders are committed to engaging with the taxi trade to identify ways to remove barriers and offer incentives to improve licensing in Greater Manchester. The roundtable was an important opportunity for GM Leaders to hear firsthand from those within the industry and to better understand the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
This update is intended to inform the trade about the results arising from that discussion.
Backing Our Taxis: Local. Licensed. Trusted.
The Mayor set out GM’s campaign ‘Backing Our Taxis: Local. Licensed. Trusted.’, which calls on the government to fix England’s broken taxi licensing system and offer more support to drivers to make the switch to greener, more accessible, vehicles easier.
We are calling for national action on out of area licensing, granting Greater Manchester more control over granting licences and enforcing conditions and local accountability to increase public confidence and trust.
Our 12-week engagement and review of licensing in GM
Whilst GM campaigns for national change, a 12 week engagement programme will inform a plan to make licensing in Greater Manchester the first choice for drivers. This will include how best to allocate the eight million pounds fund for drivers of Hackney carriages (or black cabs), which forms part of the Clean Air Plan.
The engagement will be undertaken by ARUP/AECOM and will involve online questionnaires, in-person surveys with drivers and in-depth interviews with both trade and union representatives and those involved in local licensing.
More time to upgrade vehicles
Greater Manchester’s Leaders also endorsed proposals to give more time to upgrade vehicles, extending the emission compliance date from the end of 2025 to at least 31 December 2026.
Whilst the decision will be down to individual licensing committees to consider and agree proposals, leaders have backed the extension, as well as an exemption for vehicles until the maximum age limit (as part of existing licence agreements with individual owners).
Next steps
We are committed to engaging with you over the next 12 weeks and beyond. Your input will guide the improvements in our licensing processes and help secure better conditions and support for the taxi trade in Greater Manchester.
Further details can be found at: https://www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/what-we-do/transport/taxis-and-private-hire/
We will send you the link to the survey when published and keep you posted with progress updates.
We look forward to your involvement and support as we work together to enhance the taxi services in our city region.
GM Backing Our Taxi's campaign