Do Manchester City Council contracts always require performance bonds?

Not always; the requirement depends on the contract value and risk and is specified in individual tender documents and the Council's Contract Standing Orders.

Where can I find the tariff or rate for a licensed franchise service?

Tariffs for taxi and private hire are published through the Council's licensing pages or specific licence conditions; franchised public transport rates are published by the franchising authority.

How do I appeal a licence suspension or enforcement decision?

Appeal routes vary by licence or contract; licensing decisions typically provide a review or court appeal process in the decision notice, and you should follow the notice for time limits.

Manchester Franchise Bonds & Rate Bylaws

Business and Consumer Protection England 4 Minutes Read · published February 11, 2026

In Manchester, England, municipal requirements for performance bonds and the setting of franchise rates touch procurement, licensing and transport regulation across city and regional bodies. This guide explains which Manchester departments typically require bonds or guarantees, how rate-setting for franchised services is handled, enforcement routes, and the practical steps businesses and operators must follow to comply. It draws on Manchester City Council procurement and licensing material and Greater Manchester transport franchising information where the city refers services regionally. For official procurement procedure details see the Council's standing orders Contract Standing Orders^[1].

Penalties & Enforcement

Enforcement depends on which instrument applies: council contract rules, licensing conditions, or transport franchise agreements. Specific monetary fines and fixed penalties are often set at the licence or contract level; where amounts are not published on the official page we state this below and cite the source.

Fines: amounts for breaches are not consistently published on the cited licence or procurement pages and are "not specified on the cited page" for general franchise bonds and rate-setting; see the taxi and private hire licensing information for licensing-specific penalties Taxi and private hire licensing^[2].
Contract remedies: councils may call on performance bonds or parent company guarantees where a contractor defaults; the Council's Contract Standing Orders set the procurement framework but do not list uniform bond values on the public page "not specified on the cited page".^[1]
Escalation: usual practice includes warnings, remedial notices, calling bonds, licence suspension or revocation and prosecution; specific stepwise penalty ranges for first, repeat or continuing offences are not published on the cited Manchester pages ("not specified on the cited page").^[2]
Non-monetary sanctions: service suspension, licence revocation, orders to remedy breaches, enforcement undertakings, contract termination and court proceedings are available enforcement routes under council and licensing powers.
Enforcer and complaints: licensing and contract compliance teams within Manchester City Council enforce licences and council contracts; transport franchising enforcement may involve Greater Manchester bodies for franchised services. Use the council licensing pages for complaints and enforcement contacts.^[2]
Appeals and review: appeal routes vary by instrument - licence holders typically have statutory appeal rights to the magistrates' court or a local review panel within time limits set in licensing rules; specific time limits are not specified on the cited Manchester pages ("not specified on the cited page").^[2]

If a numeric fine or bond amount is required for a specific franchise, obtain the licence or contract document directly from the Council or franchising authority.

Applications & Forms

Forms and application processes depend on whether the matter is a procurement contract, a taxi/private hire licence, or a transport franchise agreement. The Council publishes licensing guidance and downloadable application forms on its licensing pages; where a named form number or fixed fee is not shown on the public page we note "not specified on the cited page".

Licence applications: taxi and private hire licence application forms, DBS and vehicle inspection forms are available via the Council licensing pages; fees and detailed submission instructions are provided there or on linked application pages.^[2]
Procurement bonds: requirements for bid bonds, performance bonds or parent company guarantees are set out in tender documents and the Council's Contract Standing Orders; specific bond values appear in individual tender documents, not on the general standing orders page.^[1]
Submission: applications and procurement bids are submitted through the routes specified on the relevant Council pages or procurement portals; check the licence or tender notice for deadlines.

Always download the current licence or contract documents: fees, forms and deadlines are usually specified only in the application or contract notice.

Common Violations

Failure to maintain required bonds or guarantees.
Operating outside approved rates or tariff conditions for licensed services.
Poor contract performance leading to remedial orders or contract termination.
Non-compliance with licence conditions or failure to submit required records.

Action Steps

Review the specific licence or tender documents for bond amounts and tariff schedules.
Contact Manchester City Council Licensing or Contracts teams early if you anticipate non-compliance.
If served with a notice, note appeal time limits in the notice and seek the specified review or court remedy promptly.

FAQ

Do Manchester City Council contracts always require performance bonds?: Not always; the requirement depends on the contract value and risk and is specified in individual tender documents and the Council's Contract Standing Orders. For general procurement framework details see the Council's Contract Standing Orders.^[1]
Where can I find the tariff or rate for a licensed franchise service?: Tariffs for taxi and private hire are published through the Council's licensing pages or specific licence conditions; if franchise rates are set regionally for public transport they are published by the franchising authority. Check Manchester City Council licensing pages for taxi fares and Greater Manchester transport pages for franchised bus arrangements.^[2]
How do I appeal a licence suspension or enforcement decision?: Appeal routes vary by licence or contract; licensing decisions typically provide a review or court appeal process in the decision notice. Where the notice does not list timescales, the Council's licensing pages are the first official contact to confirm appeal deadlines.^[2]

How-To

Identify the controlling instrument: obtain the specific contract, licence or franchise agreement that applies to your service.
Check the document for bond amounts, tariff schedules, and appeal procedures.
Contact the relevant Manchester City Council team or franchising authority for clarification or forms.
If facing enforcement, follow the notice instructions and lodge appeals within the stated time limits or seek a court review where provided.

Key Takeaways

Bond and rate requirements are set by the specific licence, contract or franchise agreement rather than a single publicised city-wide table.
Contact Manchester City Council Licensing or Contracts teams early to get forms, fees and submission details.