The Licensing and Appeals Committee of Manchester Council is scheduled to convene on Monday 14 September 2026. The meeting's agenda includes consideration of appeals against document inspection refusals, the approval of previous minutes, and a series of requests for exemptions from the Council's Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) policy concerning window light transmittance.

Requests for Exemption from Private Hire Vehicle Policy

A significant portion of the meeting is dedicated to reviewing requests for exemptions from the Council's Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) policy, specifically concerning the light transmittance of rear passenger windows. The policy currently mandates a minimum of 30% light transmission for these windows, a standard designed to ensure passenger safety and visibility for enforcement officers and the public.

The committee will consider three distinct reports on this matter. The first two reports detail individual applications for exemption from the policy. One concerns a 2025 BYD Seal U Comfort DM-i, which has factory-fitted rear privacy glass with 20% visible light transmittance (VLT). The applicant argues that this is original factory equipment, that no clear replacement windows are available in the UK, and that similar vehicles licensed by neighbouring authorities operate within Manchester. The second report addresses a 2025 Toyota bZ4X, a fully electric vehicle, where the rear side windows have a VLT of 27%. The applicant highlights that this is a standard factory specification crucial for the vehicle's efficiency and that clear replacement glass is unavailable. Both reports note the potential conflict between strict adherence to the policy and the Council's objectives to encourage the adoption of modern, low-emission vehicles. The committee will be asked to decide whether to refuse these applications, citing safeguarding concerns, or grant exemptions based on the individual merits of each case.

The third report on this topic, Future Requests for exemption from the Council's Hackney and Private Hire Vehicle Specifications, proposes a streamlined approach for handling future applications. It suggests delegating the determination of certain exemption requests to the Chair of the Licensing and Appeals Committee, Councillor Julie Connolly, in conjunction with the Head of Service for Licensing, Fraser Swift. This delegation would be limited to cases where a vehicle fails solely due to window tint levels exceeding the Council's standards, the windows are original manufacturer standard, and the failure is supported by documented evidence of the VLT. The report also raises the possibility of the committee agreeing an interim 'tolerance' for VLT levels, such as 25% or 27%, to reduce the number of failures and support the licensed trade.

The reports consistently highlight the tension between safeguarding concerns, which necessitate clear visibility into vehicles, and the increasing trend of manufacturers fitting darker privacy glass as standard on newer electric and hybrid models. This trend is seen as potentially hindering the decarbonisation of the licensed fleet, a key objective of the Our City strategy. The reports also reference the Department for Transport's guidance on tinted windows, which suggests that licensing authorities should not require the removal of windows rear of the B-pillar if they have a minimum light transmission of 30% or above, acknowledging the cost and inconvenience of replacement.

Other Agenda Items

The committee will also consider Urgent Business and Appeals relating to the refusal of inspection of background documents or the inclusion of items in the confidential part of the agenda. Additionally, members will have an opportunity to declare any personal, prejudicial, or disclosable pecuniary interests. Finally, the minutes of the previous meeting held on 16 March 2026 are scheduled for approval as a correct record.