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 4^th April and the 15^th May 2022.

SECURITY OF LICENCES

The Licensing Service were seeking a prosecution of a driver who produced a

Fraudulent Private Hire Drivers Licence to his Private Hire Operator in order

that he could continue working. As a consequence of this investigation

holograms are now to be added to all licences as an extra security measure.

Operators have been informed to check for this when a licence is produced to

them and have been informed to always ask for the original and not a

copy/photocopy of official documentation.

AMENDMENT OF PRIVATE HIRE VEHICLE CONDITIONS

Stage 2 Minimum Licensing Standards was approved at full Council on 24^th

November 2021 and part of this was new conditions for Private Hire Vehicle

Licences. All Private Hire Vehicle Licences issued on or after 25^th November

2021 are now subject to the new conditions. Bury were the first Licensing

Authority in Greater Manchester to implement Stage 2 Common Minimum

Licensing Standards. Due to unexpected delays with the implementation of

Stage 2 Minimum Licensing Standards across Greater Manchester, details

regarding previous signage requirements were omitted from private hire

license conditions. This omitted information was detailed in the report

attached to the agenda packs listed under condition 5.

A new set of conditions containing the information was sent out to all affected

licences on 6^th May which replaced the conditions that were previously

attached to affected licences. The conditions have been amended for all

private hire vehicle licences being issued going forward. Any new conditions

related to vehicle signage will be brought before the Licensing & Safety

Committee and included in the report on new vehicle livery and signage as

specified in the Stage 2 Minimum Licensing Standards report.

PARTNERSHIP WORKING

Licensing Enforcement Officers worked alongside GMP on the evening of

Friday 29 April. Fifteen premises were visited across the borough and checks

carried out. Three premises were advised to obtain Challenge 25 signage

(signage to advise that ID is needed to purchase alcohol if you appear to be

under the age of 25), two premises were advised as they were not displaying

the summary of their licence and one takeaway was advised that they were

not permitted to open past 11.00pm and must obtain a licence if they wished

to do so.

FEE INCREASE

6=Under Section 70(3) of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions)

Act 1976 notice was given on  14 April 2022 of the proposal to increase the

current fees charged in respect of licences for Hackney Carriage Vehicles,

Private Hire Vehicles and Private Hire Operators. The 28 day objection period

for this ended on 12 May 2022 and no objections were received. Therefore

the new fees to be implemented are as below.

Vehicles under 3 years old                         £238.00 (£182.00 plus £56.00)

Vehicles over 3 years old                           £294.00 (£182.00 plus £112.00)

Private Hire Operators 1-2 vehicles         (1 Year)          £288.00

Private Hire Operators 3 or more vehicles (1 Year)       £410.00

Private Hire Operators 1-2 vehicles         (5 Year)          £1401.00

Private Hire Operators 3 or more vehicles (5 Year)       £1955.00

A member enquired when a review into the new design of licenses which included holograms would be conducted and it was stated by the Licensing Unit Manager that an update report would be produced for a future meeting in relation to badges.

Another question raised from the report was what work with the taxi trade had been undertaken in relation to concerns of vehicle livery on a local level. The Head of Public Protection reported that the trade liaison meetings started again in April with another taking place mid-June with attendance by GMP. Standing items of concern would be on the agenda and a further report on this matter would be produced in the future for this committee.

Whilst it had been reported that no objections had been received in relation to fee increases a Member asked had an assessment been undertaken on the numbers of taxi licences as there had been a decrease of Hackney Carriage vehicles in recent years. Another Member asked what the justification was for the increased figure. Upon request by the Chair, the Licensing Unit Manager would circulate the data to the Committee regarding the number of vehicles/licenses for Bury and added that the fees are for running the application process and testing procedures.

It was agreed:

That the report be noted.