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 3^rd July and the 27^th August 2023.

 

TRADE LIAISON MEETING

 

The Licensing Service held a Trade Liaison meeting with the taxi trade on the

3^rd August 2023, this was attended by representatives of the trade. The minutes

of the meeting have been published on the Council’s website.

             

Following the decision of the Committee on the 20^th July 2023, the Licensing

Service have progressed the public consultation in relation to the review of

Council Policy in relation to Hackney carriage and Private Hire. The

consultation began on the 7^th August 2023 and will end on the 15^th September

2023. [TB1] [TB2] A further report will be drafted and placed before members for

consideration at the meeting in October 2023.

 

The Licensing Service raised the public consultation with trade representatives

at the Trade Liaison meeting on the 3^rd August 2023 to enable them to advise

their members of the proposed consultation. In addition, it was requested that

a dedicated email address was set up for any issues/concerns/difficulties to be

communicated to the Licensing Service.

 

Following the Trade Liaison meeting, the Licensing Service had sent two

rounds of emails out on the 7^th August and 30^th August 2023. The email was

sent to 911 drivers, 30 Private Hire Operators and 5 trade representatives. The

Council’s Engagement Officer had been promoting and working with the trade

groups and the Council has been promoting the consultation by social media.

 

LICENSING HEARING SUB-COMMITTEE HEARING            

           

The Licensing Service received an application for a Temporary Event Notice

for the Kavern Klub, 107 The Rock, Bury, BL9 0NB. Representations were

received from Greater Manchester Police in their capacity as a responsible

authority. The matter was considered by the Licensing Hearings Sub-

Committee on the 3^rd August 2023. During the meeting the notice giver after

hearing the representation from Greater Manchester Police decided to

withdraw her application, therefore the Sub-Committee members were not

required to determine the application.

 

DEDICATED BE.EV TAXI AND PRIVATE HIRE ELECTRIC VEHICLE

CHARGING POINTS IN GREATER MANCHESTER

 

The Licensing Service were requested by Transport for Greater Manchester to

circulate to the taxi trade in Bury on the 29 August 2023, information in relation

to taxi and private hire charging points that are now live in Greater Manchester.

This information was emailed and sent to all licence holders and interested

parties and EV taxi and private hire charging points sites now live were detailed

in the report.

 

Information was also provided on how to register the vehicle on the scheme

and how to validate onto the scheme. The information sent to the trade also

contained the costs associated with the different types of chargers.

 

OFFICER TRIBUTE

 

B Thomson, the Head of Public Protection also communicated to the meeting with deep sadness the passing of a colleague Sandra Coombes. Sandra passed away peacefully on Friday the 8^th September 2023. She had worked for the authority in the highly specialist role covering Animal Health & Welfare and Animal Licensing. Sandra would be greatly missed by her colleagues, peers and all those who knew her.

Sandra had worked for Bury since March 1994 and during the last 29 and more years, Sandra had, almost singlehandedly, led all work in the complex field of animal health and welfare including dealing with many major challenges but most noteworthy the foot and mouth outbreak, illegal puppy farms and most recently avian influenza.

 

Sandra was held in high esteem throughout Greater Manchester and was a font of technical knowledge and expertise.

 

Sandra would be greatly missed by everyone who knew her in Bury and across the wider North West animal health and welfare world.

 

The Chair and Members of the Committee were deeply saddened by her sudden and unexpected loss and the thoughts and prayers of the Committee were sent to her family and friends at this terribly sad time. Mr Charlie Oakes who was in attendance at the meeting also expressed his condolences on behalf of the Taxi Association.

 

A number of Members then commented on the report.

 

One Member commented on the consultation in relation to the review of Council

Policy in relation to Hackney carriage and Private Hire and enquired how much

feedback had been received from the trade or comments from Unions.

 It was confirmed that the total numbers would be included in the October final

report and many trade representatives were part of the GMB Union.

 

Another Member commented it would be good to see a snapshot of the comments from the consultation exercise.

 

It was reported that the report would include comments as an appendix although personal information would be redacted and removed from the public domain.

 

It was agreed:

 

That the report be noted.