Decision details

OPERATIONAL REPORT

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: No

Decisions:

The Assistant Director (Localities) submitted a report advising Members on operational issues within the Licensing Service.

 

The report set out updates in respect of the following issues:

 

·         Pre-application assessments are continuing to be undertaken by the adult learning team.  From 29 September 2017 until 10 November 2017 there have been 22 assessments carried out, of which 19 passed, 3 failed and none failed to attend.

 

·         In relation to two separate Licensing Hearings Panels convened on 31 October 2017, the Licensing Unit Manager explained that the first for Polka, Parkhills Road, Bury, had presented an application to transfer the surrendered premises licence.  Greater Manchester Police gave notice that the exceptional circumstances of the case are such that granting the application would undermine the crime prevention objective.  After considering the transfer application, the Licensing Hearings Panel resolved to reject the application.

The second application was for Grape to Grain, Bridge Street, Ramsbottom, for the grant of a new premises licence and a representation was received from an interested party in respect of the application.  After considering the application, the Licensing Hearings Panel resolved to grant the application.

 

·         In respect of the Equality Act 2010, a complaint was made to the Licensing Service from a member of the public who is blind.  Following an investigation it was decided to instigate prosecution proceedings and on 1 November 2017, a private hire driver attended Manchester Magistrates Court and pleaded guilty to an offence under section 170 (3) of the Equality Act 2010, which states ‘the driver of a private hire vehicle commits an offence by failing or refusing to carry out a booking accepted by the operator – if the reason for the failure or refusal is that the disabled person is accompanied by an assistance dog’.  The driver was fined £250.00 with costs of £250.00 and a victim surcharge of £30.00.

 

·         An innovative partnership programme has been developed, ‘Communities in Charge of Alcohol’ (CICA) between the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership, all 10 Greater Manchester Local Authorities, the Royal Society for Public Health, the University of Salford and Public Health England, North West.  The programme aims to kick-start the development of a network of community alcohol champions across Greater Manchester, built on the principle that local communities should be empowered to take charge of their own health and people in communities are best placed to influence their friends, families and colleagues.

 

Radcliffe and the Darnhill area of Rochdale have been selected, due to the infrastructure already available, with the aim to provide community members with knowledge, skills and key contacts to support people to reduce drinking, attend local community events in relation to alcohol and health and provide support for communities to get involved with licensing decisions by helping raise issues with the local authority about venues selling alcohol.

 

The Licensing Unit Manager of Bury along with the Service Manager from Rochdale attended a presentation on the Licensing Act in order to give guidance on the processes that can be used by local communities if they have issues relating to problem premises that hold a premises licence/Club Premises Certificate under the licensing Act 2003.

 

It was agreed:

 

That the report be noted.

 

Publication date: 13/11/2018

Date of decision: 28/11/2017

Decided at meeting: 28/11/2017 - Licensing and Safety Committee

Accompanying Documents: