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:

 

The Licensing Service had dealt with a number of compliance and

enforcement matters between the 20^th December 2021 and the 6^th February

2022.

 

SECOND TESTING STATION

The Licensing Service have been working with the Council’s Procurement

Section in respect of a concession to provide a second testing station for the

testing of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire vehicles. The concessionary

contract has been awarded to Sunnybank Service Station, Sunnybank Road,

Bury to commence on the 1^st April 2022. Officers of the Licensing Service are

currently working with the business on the processes and procedures during

the mobilisation period of the contract. Once this has been completed

information will be published and sent to the Hackney Carriage and Private

hire Trade for their information. An update will be provided at the

forthcoming Joint Greater Manchester Police/Trade liaison meeting.

 

RECENT ATTACK ON A LICENSED PRIVATE HIRE DRIVER

Members will be aware of the recent attack on a licensed private hire driver in

Bury, the Licensing Service have been advised that the attacker was identified

and subsequently arrested by Greater Manchester Police. As there is an

ongoing criminal investigation, we are unable to provide any further

information until the legal process has concluded.

 

MULTI AGENCY ENFORCEMENT

Licensing Officers worked alongside Greater Manchester Police on the evening

of Friday 28^th January visiting licensed premises across the borough. 8 licensed

premises were visited. One off licence was advised to transfer the licence due

to new ownership. Two bars were advised to transfer the Designated Premises

Supervisor and one bar was advised to turn off a Gaming Machine until a

licence was obtained. Two private hire vehicles were advised about signage

and one private hire driver was advised as he was not wearing his badge.

 

IMMEDIATE REVOCATION OF A HACKNEY CARRIAGE DRIVER

The Licensing Service have recently received information from Greater

Manchester Police in respect of a Bury licensed hackney carriage driver. Due

to the nature of the information received, the Licensing Service in conjunction

with the Head of Public Protection and Chair of this Committee considered the

information and through the Council’s scheme of delegation on the 3February

2020 revoked his hackney carriage driver’s licence with immediate effect under

the powers of the Road Safety Act 2006 in the interests of public safety.

 

PARTNERSHIP WORKING

Officers from the Licensing Service assisted Greater Manchester Police and

the RSPCA in respect of the execution of a warrant at an address in Prestwich

where a number of dogs and puppies were found to be at the property. Further

investigation is now being given for offences regarding the breeding dogs and

the sale of dogs under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving

Animals) (England) Regulations 2018.

 

REVIEW OF LICENSING PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES

The Licensing Service are currently working with the “Lets Do it Once”

Programme Board to review our processes and our digital offer for our licence

holders. This will involve reviewing webpages, online form submission,

telephone, booking of vehicle tests and knowledge tests. Further updates will

be given in due course.

 

As part of this work it was identified that the previous telephone settings were

the cause of the low call answer rate within the Licensing Service. Following

changes to the telephone settings there has been a significant increase in the

number of telephone calls being answered and the reduction of abandoned

calls.

 

CLEAN AIR ZONE

On the 21 January 2022, the Licensing Service sent an email to all licensed

drivers, operators and trade representatives to give them an update in relation

to the Clean Air Zone. The content of the email was included in the report

attached to the agenda pack.

 

A Member expressed concerns in relation to telephone calls unanswered by the Licensing service and asked what the problems had been and the solutions to tackle these issues.

 

The Head of Public Protection, responded that the back office settings on the phone system were historical and not under the control of the Licensing Service. It was found that if a number rang for around 15 seconds it would go to the answerphone system instead of tripping through to another Officer’s extension number in the department. The Member asked would it be appropriate for someone from the telephony service to attend and it was felt that no extra information could be provided by that service.

 

The Licensing Unit Manager, Michael Bridge added he was receiving regular data reports from  the telephony service and over 60% of calls were answered compared to 25% previously. Councillor Rydeheard made a request if this data could be presented in the next operational report to the committee. 

 

A Member asked in relation to the Clean Air Zone information in the report

and the section about Pausing Common Minimum Licensing Standards

(CMLS).

 

The Head of Public Protection reported that Stage 2 of Common Minimum Licensing Standards (Vehicle Standards) were adopted by the Council on 24th November 2021. The implementation of CMLS Stage 2 included transitional arrangements for existing licence holders which would allow them time to be compliant with the policy standards by 1 April 2024. The standards were immediately adopted for new to licence vehicles. The Clean Air Fund was due to open at the end of January 2022 and would support existing license holders to upgrade vehicles.

 

He went on to state that the introduction of the Clean Air Zone in Greater Manchester had now been paused for a short time, while a revised plan to meet Government requirements on clean air, as soon as possible, and no later than 2026 is developed (by July 2022). Officers are working to understand how existing license holders may now be disadvantaged by the current unavailability of Clean Air Funds and considering if any reasonable adjustments to MLS may be needed to support the trade.

 

The Head of Public Protection also stated that the Council understands and listens to the trade regarding the impacts and consideration is being taken as to how to balance trade concerns alongside improvement of common minimum standards, public safety and supporting the ministerial direction on improving air quality in Bury and Greater Manchester.

 

Members questioned if a broader review could be looked at in relation to local drivers holding licences in Bury and not other parts of the country and why was Bury suffering from a loss of drivers. It was reported that the issue is due to old legislation which allowed for licences to be granted by authorities in other parts of the country even though the driver could be based in an area some distance away. Work with the trade liaison meetings would continue and it was stated that there are differing standards across other areas with some application fees being cheaper.

 

It was agreed:

 

That the report be noted.