The Licensing and Appeals Committee of Manchester Council met on Monday 12 October 2026. The meeting's agenda included a discussion on the allocation of Hackney Carriage Proprietor Licences, with a report recommending amendments to the existing policy and a proposed process for reallocating spare licences. Other items scheduled for consideration included urgent business and any public appeals against the refusal of document inspection or the inclusion of items in confidential parts of the agenda.

Allocation of Hackney Carriage Proprietor Licences

A significant item scheduled for discussion was the allocation of Hackney Carriage Proprietor Licences (HCPLs). A report from the Director of Planning, Licensing & Building Control outlined that there were 68 HCPLs available for reallocation. The report recommended amendments to the Council's 2010 policy on HCPL allocation to align with subsequent policy changes, particularly concerning vehicle emissions.

The proposed amendments to the policy, which was originally agreed following an Employment Tribunal challenge in 2008 and wide-ranging consultation, would replace the existing wording at point 7. The new wording would stipulate that anyone issued with a new HCPL must have:

• A vehicle that complies with the vehicle specification in the Council's Manchester Conditions of Fitness in relation to Hackney Carriage Vehicles.
• A vehicle that complies with the Council's current vehicle emissions policy.

This contrasts with the previous policy, which included a requirement for vehicles to be less than two years old at the time the licence was issued. The report noted that this age requirement had been removed due to the significant financial difficulties faced by Hackney Carriage vehicle proprietors.

The report also proposed that the random selection process for allocating spare licences could be managed by the Council's Electoral Services Unit. Specific details of the draw would be agreed following engagement with the trade. The report indicated that if fewer applications were received than the number of licences available, successful applicants would be invited to submit a formal Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licence Application without the need for a draw.

The report highlighted that the Hackney trade has experienced a general decline over the past decade, attributed to factors such as changing demand for private hire services, the cost of owning a Hackney Carriage vehicle, and recent economic challenges. This decline has impacted the value of HCPLs, with some now being transferred for the cost of the vehicle alone. Furthermore, many current licensed Hackney vehicles are not compliant with emissions requirements and will need replacing.

The Council, along with other Greater Manchester authorities, received a legal directive in 2017 to reduce NO₂ concentrations. This led to a Clean Air Plan requiring all fleets to transition to emissions compliance by 31 December 2026. A Hackney Support Fund was established to assist with fleet upgrades, offering grants of up to £12,560. Despite this support, the report indicated that a significant number of licensed Hackneys were already emissions compliant, and a substantial proportion of eligible licensees had applied for funding, with many awards already issued and paid out. However, the report also noted a decline in licensed Hackney Carriage drivers and proprietors surrendering licences, citing an inability to sell non-emissions compliant vehicles or those requiring extensive repairs.

Other Scheduled Business

The agenda also included provisions for considering any urgent business that the Chair had agreed to submit. Additionally, the committee was scheduled to consider any appeals from the public against the refusal to allow inspection of background documents or the inclusion of items in the confidential part of the agenda. Members were also to be given an opportunity to declare any personal, prejudicial, or disclosable pecuniary interests they might have in any items on the agenda. The minutes of the previous meeting held on 14 September 2026 were also scheduled for approval.