The government's failure to back Greater Manchester's clean air proposals with fair funding could put jobs and businesses at risk, according to the city region's mayor and leaders.
Earlier this year, detailed plans for a Clean Air Zone covering all ten boroughs were submitted and requested partnership funding to help taxi companies and small businesses switch to cleaner vehicles.
Greater Manchester Combined Authority has noted that the authorities have instead received a ministerial instruction to accelerate – by two years – proposals to include vans in the Clean Air Zone.
A total of £116m of clean vehicle funding had been requested. However, government has instead offered £36m ring-fenced to create a network of cameras that would issue fines to those in breach.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham and Greater Manchester Green City-region lead councillor Andrew Western are now calling for an urgent meeting with the secretary of state for the environment.
"Greater Manchester stands ready to move at pace to clean up our polluted air and work in partnership with the government," said Burnham. "But it would be unfair to ask Greater Manchester to do this alone and to fund the change by fines on small businesses.
"Taxi drivers in the city have been calling on us to play fair on clean air. We hear that call and want to help people switch. We don't want to see a single job or business threatened by the process of cleaning up our air but we can't guarantee this without help from the government.
"Our message to the government is clear: give Greater Manchester the funds we need to clean up our air and don't impose a clean air tax on our businesses. Give Greater Manchester the same support as London and play fair on clean air."
Western added: "Poor air quality is the largest environmental public health issue facing the UK, with air pollution estimated to contribute to the equivalent of 1,200 deaths in Greater Manchester each year.
"We received thousands of responses to our clean air conversation in May and June which shows that people and businesses in Greater Manchester care a lot about cleaning up our air and want to work with councils to get the right final plan for the city region.
"We've asked government for an unprecedented £116m of clean vehicle funding which would go directly to businesses using vans, taxi and private hire drivers, freight and bus operators to upgrade their fleets in the next two-to-four years. But the government has committed no clean air plan funding at all to help Greater Manchester businesses deal with air pollution from their vehicles."
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Transport for London has granted major ride-hailing company Viavan a licence despite it offering contracts that include a clause which forces its 20,000 drivers in London to pay for any tax imposed by HMRC or the government, instead of the company itself.
This implies that drivers are liable to pay for their own tax in the case that they are recognised as employees, for example; and could be liable for wider penalties relating to London's congestion charge if they are set out by the High Court later this year.
Gig economy workers will face Uber in the Supreme Court in a case that could force ride-hailing companies to recognise their drivers as employees instead of self-employed workers and gain rights like holiday and sick pay.
But this clause could stop Viavan drivers from launching claims against the company for back-taxes should their employment status change.
Mohamed Ali, 48, a driver for Viavan and its major rival Uber, claimed that TfL "doesn't care" about what is happening to drivers and is failing to protect them from unfair contracts that could harm them in the future.
"Anybody can come into the market and they [TfL] don't ask any questions. They are supposed to say this is not possible," he said.
Mahamud, 58, a Viavan driver based in London, said he was not aware and “not happy” about the clause in the contract and will now likely leave the service.
A Viavan spokesman said: "We are committed to treating our drivers with respect, giving them flexibility in how they partner with us, and offering them competitive earning opportunities. We also take driver feedback extremely seriously and respond to any concerns based on the individual circumstances of the claim. We regularly reach out to driver partners for feedback to ensure we're creating a service that works for them.”
James Farrar, chairman of the United Private Hire Drivers branch of the IWGB union, warned that drivers will be forced out of service in London if ride-hailing operators continue to push drivers' rights aside.
"More and more precarious workers are being enticed into the industry responding to the short term incentives these entrants are offering to they can grab market share from Uber," he said. "There will be a blood bath and I don't think all these operators can survive."
A TfL spokesperson said: “If there is evidence that an operator is working illegally then we will take the appropriate action.” There is no suggestion that Viavan's current contracts break the law.
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BATH
Taxi firms have urged council leaders to clamp down on Uber drivers who contribute “absolutely zero” to the local economy.
Bath Taxi Association chairman Bob Hollingdale called for their privilege to use bus lanes and bus gates to be revoked after the app “broke its promise” to use local drivers.
He claimed Uber drivers from outside the city were abusing licences to operate in Bath and in some cases, acting illegally.
He said a number of other towns across the country had brought in tighter controls and argued it would cut pollution and congestion in the city.
Speaking at Thursday’s full council meeting, Mr Hollingdale said: “A few years ago, when Uber were granted their licence to operate in Bath, they promised to use mainly local cars.
"When I say local cars, I mean cars licensed by Bath and North East Somerset Council.
“They have not kept that promise. Today, I’m asking you to restrict the use of bus lanes and bus gates to local taxis, private hire and buses only.
“A lot of towns have already done this.
“There would be less congestion and pollution.
"If they’ve had a job, they should drive back to their own area and not clog up the city.
“Most just drive here on the off-chance of getting a job, or take one illegally, which I’ve personally seen many times."
Mr Hollingdale said two of the city's biggest taxi firms have dramatically reduced the number of cabs they operate.
“A few years ago Abbey and V Cars had over 400 cars. Now they’ve got less than 200 between them," he said.
“We have the clean air zone being introduced shortly.
"Restricting these cars will have a major positive impact on the city.
“Quite often a tourist’s first point of contact is a taxi.
"They can advise the tourist of the history and other local knowledge. Out of town cars cannot.
“The contribution to the city by out-of-town cars is absolutely zero.”
Mr Hollingdale said the council had lost thousands in licensing fees from private hire vehicles being registered elsewhere, and claimed the drivers were “technically uninsured”.
Private hire taxi driver Paul Roles reminded councillors that he and his colleagues voted for them, but those from Bristol, South Gloucestershire and Wiltshire did not.
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