Bolton: Alternative idea put forward for MLS taxi scheme

The town hall was unable to come to an agreement this week on whether or not to approve the controversial minimum licencing standards (MLS) scheme which among other measures will require taxi drivers to use vehicles that are less than 10 years old by 2028.

But drivers have signalled their opposition to this measure, which they have previously said could “destroy livelihoods” while opposition politicians have called further debate on the scheme.

Harper Green Cllr Sue Haworth said: “As the shadow cabinet member for licensing I have a working knowledge of vehicle costs including vehicle choices for clean air compliance.

Cllr Sue Haworth raised the issue at a recent Bolton Council cabinet meeting (Image: Bolton Council)

“This is both new vehicles and the second-hand car market.

“A lot has changed since the MLS work started in 2018.

“Customers have less money for taxi use, the hospitality sector such as pubs and clubs has seen a reduction in customers, taxi drivers are earning less income due to lower demand, our borough is recovering from Covid in an economic downturn in our country.

“Bolton taxi drivers are being faced with a huge cost to vehicles they can have licensed for their work from 2028.”                                  

The MLS scheme is part of a Greater Manchester wide reforms package which aims to bring in common standards for the 11,500 private hire vehicles that operate across the city region’s 10 boroughs.

As it stands, the proposals will require all vehicles to be under five years old on first licencing by April 2028, while taxis will also have to comply with European standards when first licences.

The MLS scheme also aims to bring in a common livery for taxis all across Greater Manchester.

But first the 10 proposals will have to be agreed by the council and they have been called in for further scrutiny after objections from the opposition Labour group.

Cllr Haworth, whose shadow cabinet role includes licencing, has recommended that the minimum age should instead be 15 years.

She said: “Fifteen years as the oldest age of vehicle, which we refer to as the age of the fleet, is notably less costly for drivers than 10 years of the fleet.

“Our main job is to agree policies that protect the public who use taxis.

“We need also to ensure there are enough Bolton taxi drivers for the paying public here and as in other work sectors we want workers to have fair deals about work expenses and earnings.

“For taxi drivers the biggest expense is the cost of the vehicle they drive.

“Vehicles that are under 10 years of age are costly and for clean air compliance even more so.” 

But council leader Cllr Martyn Cox pointed out at a town hall meeting earlier this week that the proposals had cross party support across the city region and warned of the consequences of Bolton not playing its part in the scheme.

At Monday's cabinet meeting, he said: “These proposals came from the Labour Mayor, they’ve gone to every Labour authority, they’ve all agreed them.

“But the basis of this is the funding we’re relating to.

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“If we simply say we are having no part of this, given government legislation towards net zero and given Andy Burnham’s commitment to net zero and I know better than that because I was green city region spokesperson.

“It is going to be the case that if Bolton completely withdraws from this and says we’re having nothing to do with it this is an extremely high probability that we will lose considerable funding for this.”

He added: “If you believe at all in any of this is beggars belief that at the first opportunity you walk away and say we don’t want anything to do with this.”