Bury licensing officers want a short extension for private hire vehicles that still miss the borough's age rule. The Licensing and Safety Committee is due to consider the report at 7pm on Thursday 5 November 2026, in Committee Rooms A and B at Bury Town Hall. If members agree, it goes to full council on 11 November. The 4 January deadline stands until a decision is made. Age policy report
What would move
A private hire vehicle that misses the age policy has to be replaced by 4 January 2027. The limits would stay. A standard private hire vehicle can remain licensed for up to 12 years from the date of registration, the cap recently raised from 10 years. A wheelchair-accessible private hire vehicle can remain licensed for up to 17 years.
An existing proprietor whose licence falls due after 4 January could apply to renew the same vehicle. It would have to pass the council's compliance test. The licence would then be granted with a condition that the vehicle is taken out of service and replaced with a compliant one by 31 May 2027.
From that date, the Head of Public Protection, the licensing unit manager or the deputy licensing officer could suspend, revoke or refuse to renew. Each case would turn on its own facts, under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976. The flowchart shows a licence suspended if the old vehicle has not been replaced before 31 May, and revoked if it has not been changed within two months.
Keeping 4 January, and a shorter extension, were both considered. The recommendation is 31 May 2027.
Ten vehicles
Records for October 2026 list 10 private hire vehicles still outside the age policy, in a fleet of 708. That is 1.4 per cent.
On 8 October the same committee approved the same 31 May 2027 date for private hire vehicles that miss the emissions standard. The age deadline would be brought into line with that date. Proprietors in both groups are on an existing transition, and need more time to secure funding and a replacement. The emissions amendment is also going to full council on 11 November.
Between 15 September and 31 May 2027, an eligible proprietor would apply for support funding, buy a compliant vehicle, submit a vehicle-change application and present the new vehicle for test. No number is given for how many of the 10 can get the funding. That funding is external. Licensing is paid for by fees, and there is no direct cost to the council.
At the Trade Liaison Group on 7 September 2026, trade representatives set out how close the January date is, and the difficulty of obtaining a replacement.
There is also a recorded risk that a proprietor could license with a neighbouring council, if Bury keeps the earlier date and that council's arrangements differ.
Where the limits sit
On the council pages checked for this report, Manchester, Tameside and Wigan also license a standard private hire vehicle up to 12 years. Trafford's limit is 10 years. For wheelchair-accessible vehicles, Bury, Manchester and Wigan allow 17 years, and Oldham, Tameside and Trafford allow 15.
The age transition now in force was agreed by the licensing committee on 5 June 2025 and ratified by full council on 16 July 2025. Some delegated authority already covers amendments linked to the age policy. This deadline is going back to the committee, and then to full council, because of its significance.