Agenda item

A report from the Executive Director (Corporate Core) 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 21^st July and the 17^th August 2025.

LICENSING HEARINGS SUB-COMMITTEE

On the 8^th July 2025, the Licensing Hearings Sub-Committee determined an objection notice in relation to an application for a Temporary Event notice between the hours of 20.30 to 03.00 on the 17^th July until 20^th July 2025 that had been received from Greater Manchester Police in respect of 65 Windsor Road, Prestwich. Members heard the evidence presented both by the

notice giver and Greater Manchester Police and decided to issue a counter notice pursuant to Section 105(2)(b) of the Licensing Act 2003. The Licensing Authority considered this necessary for the promotion of the Licensing Objectives which prevented the event from taking place.

On the 14^th July 2025, an application for a club premises certificate for Bolton Wyresdale Amateur Football Club, 65 Radcliffe Moor Road, Bolton, BL2 6RF. The application attracted 13 representations form interested parties. Members heard from the applicant and the representors and they decided to grant the application applied for.

On the 21^st August 2025, an application was heard for a premises licence for AY Lounge and Bar, 153 The Rock, Bury. The application attracted 1 representation from an interested party. Members heard from the applicant and the representors and decided to grant the application as applied for.

PARTNERSHIP WORKING

Officers from Bury Trading Standards, with the assistance of officers from the Council's Licensing Team, recently participated in two days of action on the 5^th and 6^th August 2025.

This was part of the Safer Summer initiative involved coordinated efforts from Trading Standards, Licensing, Greater Manchester Police (GMP), and Immigration. The operations involved intelligence led visits across Bury and Prestwich, focusing on convenience stores, vape shops, and barbers.

During these operations, the following items were seized:

• 447 illegal vapes
• 34,260 illicit sticks of tobacco (1713 packets)
• 8.4 kg of illicit hand-rolling tobacco (168 packets)
• 196 toys/keyrings

The total street value of the seized items from the operation combined is estimated at £37,500. Notably, investigators discovered concealed in ceiling tiles and other nooks and crannies, illicit tobacco in one shop.

DBS CONSENT

Members were reminded a report that was considered on the 5^th June 2025 in relation to the immediate suspension of licensed drivers who had not responded to the request to obtain their consent from the Licensing Service to undertake a check to ascertain if they are registered on the DBS update Service.

It was agreed that the Licensing and Safety Committee delegate to the Head of Public Protection, Licensing Unit Manager, and the Deputy Licensing Officer in consultation with the Chair of the Licensing and Safety Committee to immediately suspend Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers who have not given their consent to the Licensing Service for a check to be carried out to ascertain if they are on the DBS update service, to immediately suspend if

they have not applied for an enhanced  DBS check and registered on the DBS update service or the Licensing Service have not been supplied with the Enhanced DBS information before the expiry date of their current DBS Certificate.  In addition to electronic communications a paper letter would also be posted out via Royal Mail. The Licensing Service sent a letter out to those individuals that had not responded asking for their consent. This did generate responses from some of the drivers but not all. An Operational Decision was drafted and signed by the Licensing Unit Manager and the Chair

of the Licensing and Safety Committee for 14 Drivers to be immediately suspended. Appointments were made for them to attend the Town Hall for the paperwork to be given to them, this generated further responses and currently we have 4 individuals who will be being immediately suspended.

GREATER MANCHESTER TAXI REVIEW

The Licensing Unit Manager has been working with 9 GM Licensing Authorities, Transport for Greater Manchester and Arup/Aecom following the extensive engagement that has taken place with all stakeholders including Non-GM Licensing Authorities. Updates will be given in due course.

INQUIRY BY THE TRANSPORT SELECT COMMITTEE WILL INVESTIGATE HOW STANDARDS FOR TAXIS AND PRIVATE HIRE VEHICLES

The Licensing Unit Manager has been working with all 9 GM Licensing Authorities and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to prepare a response by the deadline. The licensing service is aware of a hackney carriage trade representative had submitted a response.

The Licensing Unit Manager informed the meeting that part of paragraph 7.3 of the report was missing from the agenda pack and read out the rest of the sentence at the meeting.

CLEAN TAXI FUND

The Licensing Unit Manager has been working with 9 GM Licensing Authorities and Transport for Greater Manchester in relation to the proposed Clean Taxi Fund. Updates will be provided as they are published by TfGM.

PARKLIFE

Following a request by the Members of the Licensing and Safety Committee for a debrief of the work that was undertaken by officers from the Public Protection Service in respect of Parklife (13^th -15^th June 2025). The key enforcement actions were detailed in the report attached to the agenda pack.

OASIS

Again, following a request by the Members of the Licensing and Safety Committee for a debrief of the work that was undertaken by officers from the Public Protection Service in respect of Oasis. Officers worked the five dates of the concerts and the key enforcement actions were detailed in the report attached to the agenda pack.

The Chair placed on record his thanks to the Licensing Department for their work with agencies across Greater Manchester.

A Member asked what would happen to the shop that had items seized including illicit tobacco concealed in the premises. The Licensing Unit Manager reported that a potential closure order could be administered.

Delegated decision:

It was agreed that the report be noted.