Information for Salford licensees

This page is to update private hire and hackney carriage drivers with the latest information they need to know. Updates are also sent to licensees by email. If you're not receiving these emails, send your up-to-date email address to licensing@salford.gov.uk

Important updates – Tax checks, Clean Air Zone and Minimum Licensing Standards (November 2021)

Tax checks on application or renewal of licence after April 2022

HMRC recently published guidance for licensees in relation to new tax checks that will be implemented from 4 April 2022. 

After this date, if you apply for a new licence or apply to renew an existing driver, operator or vehicle licence, you will need to complete a tax check.

  • You must carry out the tax check yourself. 
  • The tax check will ask questions about how you pay any tax that may be due on income you earn from your licensed trade.
  • After you have completed the tax check you will be given a 9-character tax check code.
  • You will need to give the code on your application to the licensing authority, so they can confirm you have carried out a tax check.
  • You will not be granted a licence if you do not give a tax check code to your licensing authority.

The Licensing Service plan to update our online application and renewal forms so that you can simply provide your tax check code to the licensing authority at point of application. 

Information relating to your tax affairs is not shared with the local authority as part of this process.

What you should do before April 2022

  • Get a Government Gateway user ID and password

You will need a Government Gateway user ID and password to complete a tax check, so you should make sure you have one before you need to make your licence application.

If you do not have a user ID, you can create one by registering for HMRC online services.

  • Check your HMRC records are up to date

You can check your details are up to date when you get a Government Gateway user ID, or by signing in to HMRC Online Services.

  • Find out if you must pay tax on your earnings from your licensed trade if you’re not already registered with HMRC

Check if you:

If you only pay tax through PAYE you do not need to check your records.

For further information, see HMRC guidance to licence applicants.

GM Clean Air Zone Financial Support Scheme for taxis and PHVs in January 2022

A financial support scheme to upgrade or retrofit GM-licensed taxis and private hire vehicles to comply with the GM-wide Clean Air Zone (CAZ) is set to open to applications in January 2022.

Taxis and private hire vehicles licensed with one of the 10 GM local authorities before 3 December 2020 that do not meet the Clean Air Zone’s emission standards will be liable for a CAZ charge from 1 June 2023.  This gives the GM taxi and private hire trade 17 months to apply for financial support to upgrade or retrofit their vehicles before they would be liable for a charge.

The GM Clean Air Zone is a key component of Greater Manchester’s green revolution, helping to tackle the problem of air pollution, which contributes towards at least 1,200 deaths per year in the city-region. GM has secured one of the largest support packages outside of London with £120m to help regional businesses, people and organisations upgrade to cleaner, compliant vehicles and avoid a daily charge.

New online checker for Greater Manchester’s Clean Air Zone

In May 2022, Greater Manchester’s Clean Air Zone (CAZ) will be implemented across the city region to improve air quality now and for future generations. From late January 2021, applications will be open for financial support to upgrade or retrofit non-compliant taxis and PHVs.

Early application is encouraged to ensure applicants are well-placed to access the available funding. A new online checker is now available to enable vehicle owners to find out if their vehicle is affected by the Clean Air Zone and whether they are eligible for financial support.

Sign-up for updates to stay up to date at cleanairgm.com.  If you require further information about Greater Manchester’s Clean Air Zone, please email info@cleanairgm.com

Introduction of Be.EV charging network tariff and launch of taxi membership scheme

A free membership scheme for Greater Manchester’s Be.EV electric vehicle charging point network is now open to Greater Manchester-licensed hackney and PHV drivers. The scheme will allow taxi drivers to use 60 new, dedicated taxi-only Be.EV rapid chargers when they are live at a discounted taxi member rate.  There will be one dedicated taxi rapid charger at the Hardman Street taxi rank in Spinningfields in Manchester city centre. This will be for the use of Manchester City Council-licensed hackney cabs only.

The first dedicated rapid charger available to all Greater Manchester-licensed hackneys and PHVs is currently scheduled to go live early in 2022, with all 60 chargers due to be installed by early 2023.

Get further information and apply to join the taxi membership scheme.

As previously shared, in Greater Manchester there are currently 360 charge points with around 700 connectors; more will be added in due course. 

For licensees utilising an electric vehicle, you can find all charge points in the UK and get live updates on availability on the interactive map.

Update on GM Minimum Licensing Standards

Following public consultation in 2020 on the proposals for GM Minimum Licensing Standards for driver, vehicle, operator and local authority, officers put forward final recommendations to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) in two stages.

The first stage in respect of driver, operator and local authority standards was endorsed by the GMCA in September. You can view the associated reports on the GMCA website (item 15). The Standards were approved for adoption by Cabinet in Salford in September.

The second stage in respect of vehicle standards was endorsed by the GMCA in October. You can view the associated reports on the GMCA website (item 16).  The Standards are due to go before Cabinet in Salford in December.

Read more in relation to the standards, including an overview of measures.

Once a decision has been made in respect of Stage 2, the Licensing Authority will issue an updated taxi licensing policy for licensees and will provide licensees with information explaining when and how standards will be implemented.

Get online week 18 to 24 October (October 2021)

Get Online Week is here to help everybody get connected with free and friendly support to do more online.

From connecting with family and friends to staying safe when using the internet, in Salford we're always here to help.

During Get Online Week we're making it even easier for residents to discover for themselves the benefits of going online with lots of free events and drop-insessions all over the city.

Gateway centres

Drop into your local gateway centre in Swinton, Walkden, Pendleton and Eccles or Broughton Hub any day between 10am and 12 noon and 2pm to 4pm. Our friendly staff will are ready to welcome you in the foyer with a large screen to help you in whatever way you need - maybe it's to complete an applicationfor a Blue Badge or free school meals? Maybe you need help with your phone or tablet?

Children’s quiz to win a tablet!

To show how easy it is to go online to find information we've set up some quiz questions with a chance to win a tablet.

Start quiz

TalkTalk’s digital champions are running scam awareness sessions between 1pm and 3pm every day in our Gateways – Swinton on Monday, Walkden on Tuesday, Broughton Hub on Wednesday, Pendleton on Thursday and Eccles on Friday to help breakdown fears about scams online, as well as providing practical advice and tips to keep people safe.

Community centres

During Get Online Week our digital team plus TalkTalk's digital champions will offer these same drop-in sessions at a different community centre each day.

  • 10am to 3pm - general digital support
  • 11am to 1pm - TalkTalkDigital Champions about scam awareness
  • Monday 18 October - Critchley Community Hub, Age UK Salford
  • Tuesday 19 October - Salford Hive Community Hub, Victoria Park, Swinton
  • Wednesday 20 October - Salford Loaves and Fishes, Pendleton
  • Thursday 21 October - Salford Foundation, Pendleton

HOST, Home of Skills and Technology

Hear from the experts at our digital technology super hub.

Get Online and Build your Portfolio
Tuesday 19 October, 1pm to 2pm

Get Online and be Cybersafe
Thursday 21 October, 10am to 11am

Find out more

More event details are on the Digital Everyone website. Salford's one stop website for courses, training and support to do more online confidently and safely.

But if you can't use a website call our Spirit of Salford helpline on 0800 952 1000.

Face coverings (June 2021)

We have arranged a supply of face coverings for you. You can now visit a location below, present your driver badge or exemption letter and collect a box of face coverings to use for you and your passengers:

  • The VMS garage at Turnpike
  • At our testing centres (where you can have a test too)

Below is a reminder of guidance to keep you and your passengers safe:

Drivers

  • Regular testing is recommended. Everyone in England can receive regular tests and as a driver who comes into contact with members of the public you should consider getting tested regularly
  • If you have not been vaccinated it is recommended that you consider getting vaccinated when you are invited. Information about vaccines is available from the NHS
  • You may decide to install a safety screen behind the front row seats to separate yourself from passengers in the rear of the vehicle. The decision on whether to use a screen rests with you. If you decide to fit one, guidance on how to choose and fit a screen safely in a vehicle, has been shared and can be made available on request
  • To help control the spread of COVID-19, drivers are encouraged to download and use the NHS COVID-19 app

Picking up passengers

  • Before a passenger enters your vehicle, you should ask if they have coronavirus symptoms – a fever, new cough or loss of smell or taste, or have had a positive coronavirus test in the last ten days. You should refuse service if they have
  • You should wash or sanitise your hands if you come into contact with a passenger or their luggage. You should do this before and after contact
  • You should continue to provide support to disabled passengers to safely enter and exit your vehicle. You should continue to assist disabled passengers with their luggage and mobility equipment
  • Passengers should check guidance on travel and restrictions on social distancing that apply to their journey. To help control the spread of the virus, you should remind passengers of the rules on social contact in place, but you do not have to refuse to carry them

In the vehicle

  • Passengers must wear a face covering in a taxi or PHV, unless they are exempt. You can refuse to take a passenger if they are not wearing a face covering and they are not exempt. Passengers do not have to provide proof that they are exempt
  • We recommend that you do wear a mask if it does not affect your ability to drive safely
  • You should ask passengers to use the seating furthest away from you. Where possible they should not sit in the front of the vehicle
  • Open windows when carrying passengers and/or use the car’s vents to bring in fresh air from outside. You should not use the recirculated air option for the car’s ventilation system when carrying passengers

End of journey – leaving the vehicle

  • Take contactless payment if you can. If not, you should wash your hands with soap and water or sanitiser after handling money
  • You should remind passengers to wash or sanitise their hands after the journey

Between every journey you should:

  • clean parts of your vehicle that you or passengers may have touched, for example, door handles, payment devices, protective screens, buttons, seats
  • open doors / windows to ventilate the car for five minutes
  • wash your hands for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitiser

Guidance on face coverings / masks

  • wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for 20 seconds or use hand sanitiser before putting a face covering on, and before and after removing it
  • when wearing a face covering, avoid touching your face or face covering, as you could contaminate them with germs from your hands
  • change your face covering if it becomes damp or if you’ve touched it
  • continue to wash your hands regularly
  • change and wash your face covering daily. If the material is washable, wash in line with manufacturer’s instructions; if it’s not washable, dispose of it carefully in your usual waste
  • practise social distancing wherever possible
  • be aware that face coverings may make it harder to communicate with people who rely on lip reading, facial expressions and clear sound.

Reporting incidents (April 2021)

We are aware that on occasions drivers, vehicle owners and operators may be subject to unacceptable behaviour from members of the public. Some of the types of abuse include verbal and racial abuse or damage to vehicles. We would like licensees that experience this type of unacceptable behaviour to inform the Licensing Authority. Please report an incident using our online form. A news story was issued in February 2021 about the abuse of taxi and private hire drivers.

Drivers holding stickers

Safe travel during COVID-19 (April 2021)

Please take a moment to watch this safe travel video which gives helpful information and advice to help protect you and your passengers. Thanks to East Cambridgeshire District Council and Huntingdonshire District Council for giving us permission to share it with you. 

Taxis and private hire

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