Greater Manchester Lobbying Government to end Cross-Border Hiring

Cross-border hiring has been a contentious topic in the taxi and private hire trade for many years. While some see it as a non-issue, there are plenty of people who feel it undermines industry standards in their area. 

In a recent interview, Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, explained how the council has been appealing to government to put an end to cross-border hiring in the region.  

The Cross-Border Hiring Issue 

In the Local Government Association’s Taxi and PHV Licensing handbook, cross-border hiring is defined as: 

“...when a taxi is lawfully used for PHV purposes in a district outside which it has been licensed to operate.” 

“The term ‘cross border’ is also used when a PHV in one district picks up a passenger from another district.” 

It is a perfectly legal practice but is considered problematic for a few different reasons. 

First, if a driver is acting outside of the district where they are licensed, the local authority has no powers to intervene if the driver contravenes a condition of their licence.  

Second, it can be unfair on the locally licensed drivers. Out of district drivers may be licensed in an area where a licence costs less, or where less rigorous checks and training are carried out. 

Finally, vehicles standards vary between licensing authorities. Out of district drivers can then make e of vehicles which otherwise wouldn’t have been approved in certain areas.  

This last point exactly why Greater Manchester authorities are lobbying government over the cross-border issue.  
 

Greater Manchester Standards 

The ten authorities that make up the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) are currently looking to introduce joint minimum vehicle standards across the region. 

A big part of these standards will focus on the age and emissions of taxi and private hire vehicles. This is to help the authorities achieve their clean air targets as well as improve compliance with their new Clean Air Zone (CAZ).  

GMCA’s concern is that compliance with the CAZ will be difficult to manage if out of district drivers are working the region. 

Speaking on BBC Radio Manchester, Burnham said: 

“What we're saying to the government is help us by giving us the power to stop people undercutting our standards and driving around in older vehicles.” 

"And that could help towards the compliance for the Clean Air Zone.” 

"Newer taxis are much more likely to be compliant and what we want is the ability to both require newer vehicles on our roads but also provide funding to taxi drivers to upgrade their vehicles." 

GMCA want the government to introduce regulations that would prevent drivers licensed in different areas from working in the region. If the government do introduce legislation to this effect, it would be the first of its kind.