Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted by B Thomson- Assistant Director Public Protection & Resilience and Councillor M Walsh.

There was no substitute representatives for Councillor Walsh.

Members of the Licensing and Safety Committee are asked to consider whether they have an interest in any of the matters on the agenda, and if so, to formally declare that interest. 

There were no declarations of interest.

The minutes of the meetings held on the 10^th September 2026 are attached. Members of the Licensing and Safety Committee are asked to consider whether these are a correct record of the meeting, and if so, to formally approve them.

Delegated decision:

That the Minutes of the last meetings held on the 10^th September 2026 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Questions are invited from members of the public present at the meeting on any matters for which this Committee is responsible. Questions from members of the public may only be asked if notice has been given no later than midday two days before the day of the meeting.

A questioner who is present at the meeting and who has submitted a written question may, at the discretion of the Chair, ask one supplementary question. A supplementary question must arise directly out of the original question or the reply. A question must relate to an item included on the agenda, referenced in the Minutes or an area to which the committee has responsibility.

No questions had been pre submitted to the meeting and no members of the public were in attendance at the meeting.

A report from the Executive Director (Corporate Core) is attached.

The Executive Director (Corporate Core) submitted a report advising Members on operational issues within the Licensing Service.

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

The Licensing Service had dealt with a number of compliance and enforcement matters

In September 2026 in respect of clients and vehicles. A table in the report detailed this information.

LICENSING HEARINGS SUB- COMMITTEES

On the 17^th September 2026, a Licensing Hearing Sub-Committee considered an application for the grant of a new premises licence in respect of Pizza GoGo, 56 Bury New Road, Prestwich. The application attracted representations from Environmental Health acting in their capacity as a responsible authority Greater Manchester Police and one interested parties. Members considered the application and decided  to grant the application and modify conditions.

IMMEDIATE SUSPENSIONS

Following consultation with the Chair of the Licensing and Safety Committee, the

licensing Service had immediately suspended six drivers due to them no longer

being registered on the DBS update Service.

Delegated decision:

It was agreed that the report be noted.

A report from the Executive Director (Corporate Core) is attached.

The Executive Director (Corporate Core) submitted a report to propose that the Council's policy in relation to written-off vehicles be amended to permit the licensing of Category N and S vehicles (non-structural damage and structural damage), subject to appropriate independent inspection and certification requirements.

The Licensing Unit Manager presented the item and explained that there was a small error contained within the report and option two stated on pages 18 and 29 should be amended to read option three.

The available options were presented to the Committee:-

• Amend the Council policy to permit Category N vehicles to be licensed in Bury where the proprietor provides a report by a Member or Associate Member of the Institute of Automotive Engineer Assessors. Where the engineer identifies concerns relating to wheel alignment, chassis geometry, suspension integrity or structural repair quality, officers may require an Autolign inspection before the application is determined.
• Amend the Council policy to permit Category N and Category S vehicles to be licensed in Bury where the proprietor provides a report by a Member or Associate Member of the Institute of Automotive Engineer Assessors. Where the engineer identifies concerns relating to wheel alignment, chassis geometry, suspension integrity or structural repair quality, officers may require an Autolign inspection before the application is determined.
• Amend the Council policy to permit Category S vehicles to be licensed in Bury where the proprietor provides a report by a Member or Associate Member of the Institute of Automotive Engineer Assessors. Where the engineer identifies concerns relating to wheel alignment, chassis geometry, suspension integrity or structural repair quality, officers may require an Autolign inspection before the application is determined.
• Retain the current policy which prevents the licensing of any vehicle that has been recorded as a write-off category.

Members discussed that some local authorities just accept category N vehicles and not both S and N along with the need for high standards of engineering repair work.

A discussion was also held on what the written off categories mean in terms of repair work required and how these sit under government standards.

Delegated decision:

That the Licensing and Safety Committee agreed to:-

(1)  Note the outcomes of the review and benchmarking exercise.

(2)  Noted the trade consultation responses received.

(3)  Approved Option 3 to permit the licensing of Category N and Category S insurance write-off vehicles subject to the safeguards outlined in this report.

(4)  Recommended adoption of the revised policy by Full Council.

A report from the Executive Director (Corporate Core) is attached.

The Executive Director (Corporate Core) submitted a report to seek  approval to amend the Council's current transitional arrangements relating to emissions standards for existing licensed private hire vehicles.

The Council previously approved transitional arrangements allowing vehicle proprietors operating non-compliant private hire vehicles additional time to replace those vehicles with compliant alternatives. The current arrangements require vehicle proprietors to replace non-compliant vehicles by 4 January 2027.

Since approval of the policy, the Greater Manchester Private Hire Support Fund became available on 15 September 2026. Officers have identified that the period between the opening of the support fund and the compliance deadline may not provide sufficient opportunity for affected proprietors to apply for funding, receive approval, source a suitable replacement vehicle and complete the licensing process.

In developing the recommendation, officers considered a range of alternative options, including maintaining the existing compliance deadline and introducing a shorter extension period. Following assessment of the available evidence, funding timescales and likely impact on affected vehicle proprietors, officers consider the recommended option represents the most proportionate means of achieving compliance whilst supporting the licensed trade and maintaining the Council's air quality objectives.

Alternative options were provided, including maintaining the existing 4^th January 2027 deadline and to not make any changes to policy or extend the transitional period for a shorter period of time.

The reasons for the Recommendation(s) included:-

• That the proposed amendment provided a proportionate and time-limited extension to existing transitional arrangements following the introduction of the Greater Manchester Private Hire Support Fund.
• That the extension would support affected vehicle proprietors in accessing available grant funding, securing replacement vehicles and achieving compliance with the Council's adopted emissions standards whilst maintaining the Council's commitment to improving air quality and reducing transport emissions.

Delegated decision:

That the Licensing and Safety Committee agreed to:-

1. Considered and adopted the following amendment to the existing emissions compliance arrangements and recommended approval by Full Council:
2. For existing proprietors of licensed private hire vehicles which do not meet the Council's adopted emissions standards:

·       To permit a vehicle proprietor whose private hire vehicle licence falls due for renewal after 4 January 2027 and whose vehicle does not meet the required emissions standard (Euro 4 Petrol or Euro 6 Diesel) to apply to renew that vehicle licence. Where the vehicle successfully passes the Council's compliance testing requirements, a vehicle licence may be granted subject to a condition requiring the vehicle to be removed from service and replaced with a compliant vehicle no later than 31 May 2027.

·       To delegate authority to the Head of Public Protection, Licensing Unit Manager and/or Deputy Licensing Officer to take appropriate enforcement action, including suspension, revocation or refusal to renew a licence, where a proprietor fails to comply with the condition requiring replacement of a non-compliant vehicle by 31 May 2027, having regard to the circumstances of each individual case and the relevant provisions of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.

3.    Recommend the proposed amendment to Full Council for approval.

Any other business, which by reason of special circumstances, the Chair agrees may be considered as a matter of urgency.

No urgent business was reported at the meeting.

To consider passing the appropriate resolution under section 100 (A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business since it involves the likely disclosure of the exempt information stated.

Delegated decision:

That in accordance with Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business since it involved the likely disclosure of information relating to individuals who hold Licences granted by the Authority or Applicants for Licences provided by the Authority. </AI7>

A report from the Executive Director (Corporate Core) is attached.

Licence Holder 05/2026

The Executive Director (Corporate Core) submitted a report relating to client number 05/2026. </AI9>The Licensing Unit Manager reported that due to an administration technicality the required full notification period had not been provided to the licence holder. As a result, an offer for a deferment until a later date had been made and the client was in agreement with this arrangement.

Delegated decision:

The report was withdrawn from the agenda and deferred until the next Licensing and Safety Committee meeting.