Agenda item

A report from the Executive Director (Operations) is attached

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

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

COMMON MINIMUM LICENSING STANDARDS

Members will recall that on the 23^rd July 2020 that they authorised a consultation on the proposed GM Minimum Standards and support the proposal that TfGM administers the consultation process.

The Licensing Service would like to inform the Members of the panel that the consultation relating to the common minimum licensing standards/Clean Air has commenced.

COVID 19 – TRACK AND TRACE

Officers of the Public Protection Service including licensing officers have undertaken training to assist Public Health England by contacting individuals who have tested positive for COVID 19 to ascertain who they have been in close contact with. This work will continue for the foreseeable future.

LICENSING HEARINGS PANEL -10^th September 2020

The Licensing Service received an application to review the premises licence from an interested party in respect of the Goats Gate, Radcliffe New Road Whitefield. This application attracted five representations. Members considered the evidence with care and following the evidence of all parties, having understood the application and equally understanding the representations made, the Panel therefore unanimously decided it reasonable, balanced, appropriate and proportionate, based on all of the evidence and in accordance with its duties, that in order to promote the licensing objectives set out in the Licensing Act 2003, in particular the prevention of public nuisance, that the 21 conditions put forward by the respondents would be attached to the licence.

LICENSING HEARINGS PANEL -14^th September 2020

The Licensing Service have received an application for the grant of a premises licence in respect of Myles Trading, 2a The Parade, Rufford Drive, Whitefield. This application attracted one representation against and 73 letters of support in favour of the application. All of the evidence was considered with care and it was established that having understood the Application and equally understanding the representations made, the Panel found there were no causes for concern so far as the promotion of the licensing objectives were concerned.

It was agreed unanimously, to grant the application for a Premises Licence subject to conditions volunteered by the applicant.

COVID 19

Officers of the Licensing Service have been actively engaging with businesses in relation to the impacts of the Covid 19 pandemic to ensure that they are compliant. Officers have been working additional hours over the weekends throughout the pandemic to ensure that businesses are compliant.

They work they have been doing is as follows:

·         A direction notice to a licensed premises requiring them to close due to being considered an imminent risk to public health due to a lack of COVID secure measures.

·         Carrying out 1064 proactive visits and contacts to licensed premises.

·         Responded to 104 complaints about non-compliance in respect of the Coronavirus regulations.

·         Writing to 420 businesses giving detailed information and advice that relates to their business  i.e. Pubs, clubs and Bars, Restaurants and Takeaways

·         Supplying posters to help inform members of the public of their obligations with regards to the wearing of masks.

·         341 licensed premises to check for compliance with regulations relating to  “10pm closure”

·         Issued 5 Warning Letters to businesses still trading after 10 pm

IMMEDIATE REVOCATION OF PRIVATE HIRE DRIVERS LICENCE

On the 11^th September 2020, the Licensing Service in consultation with the Chair of the Licensing and Safety Panel revoked a private hire driver’s licence with immediate effect on the grounds of public safety following the driver being charged with two criminal offences.

On the 11^th September 2020, the Licensing Service in consultation with the Chair of the Licensing and Safety Panel revoked a 2^nd private hire driver’s licence with immediate effect on the grounds of public safety ,  following the driver being charged with two criminal offences.

Delegated decisions:

1.   That the contents of the report be noted.

2.   That all of the Licensing Team and other staff that have supported them be thanked for their hard work and dedication during the ongoing difficult period in relation to COVID 19.