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 8^th September and the 26^th October 2025.

IMMEDIATE SUSPENSIONS

The Licensing Service have acted against 5 licensed private hire drivers due to them not being registered on the DBS update service or a certificate was no longer valid due to a change on their certificate. Following consultation with the Chair of the Committee it was decided to immediately suspend five private hire drivers in the interests of public safety. Since this action has been taken one driver has cancelled his licence and one has obtained a new enhanced

DBS Certificate and registered on the update service.

The Licensing Service have acted against a further eleven licensed private hire drivers due to them not being registered on the DBS update service or a certificate was no longer valid due to a change on their certificate. Following consultation with the Chair of the Committee it was decided to immediately suspend eleven e private hire drivers in the interests of public safety.

The Licensing Service have acted against a one licensed private hire drivers due to him not being registered on the DBS update service. Following consultation with the Chair of the Committee it was decided to immediately suspend his e private hire drivers in the interests of public safety

IMMEDIATE REVOCATION

The Licensing Service have revoked with immediate effect a private hire driver due to intelligence and conduct. Following consultation with the Chair of the Committee it wasdecided to immediately suspend his e private hire drivers in the interests of public safety.

LICENSING HEARINGS SUB COMMITTEES

On the 3 October 2025, a Licensing Hearings Sub-Committee took place to consider an application for the grant of a premises licence at Prestwich Store, 3 Fairfax Road, Prestwich.

The application had attracted representations from Trading Standards and Greater Manchester Police. After hearing the evidence, members decided to refuse the application.

On the 3 October 2025, a Licensing Hearings Sub-Committee was due to take place to consider an application for the grant of a premises licence at The Rock Convenience Store, 43 The Rock, Bury. The application had attracted representations from Trading Standards and an Interested party (Member of the Public). The Licensing Service were advised that the applicant wished to withdraw the application prior to the date of the schedule hearing.

PARTNERSHIP WORKING

On 16 October Licensing Enforcement Officers visited seven premises across the Borough as part of Op Machinize alongside officers from Greater Manchester Police, HMRC, Immigration, Trading Standards, Environmental Health and a tobacco dog. Operation Machinize, is the ongoing NCA-coordinated operation to tackle money laundering and criminal use of cash-intensive high street businesses. 888 packets of Illicit cigarettes and 108 pouches of hand rolling tobacco were seized as well as 199 illegal disposable vapes and 76 counterfeit toys and 10 counterfeit pairs of headphones with an approximate street value of £22,500.  

SECOND TESTING STATION

Members will recall a report that was considered in relation to the Second Testing Station.

Members decided to undertake a procurement exercise. Due to work demands within the Councils Procurement Section, resulted in the extension of the contract via Operational Decisions.

In July 2025 a notice was published on the Council’s tendering portal, The Chest seeking expressions of interested parties to determine the level of interest within the marketplace of garages able to undertake the required HCV/PHV certificate of compliance tests. As with the previous process the main stipulation was that suitably qualified DVSA certified garages must

be based within the borough boundary. The notice was placed on the portal on Wednesday 30^th July 2025 with a closing time and date for the registration of expressions of interest set at 17.00 on Sunday 31^st August 2025. Eleven organisations submitted their interest, however only one organisation was located within the borough.

The concessionary contract will commence for the provision of private hire and hackney carriage vehicle testing for the period from 01 November 2025 to 31 October 2026 with options to extend for two further twelve-month periods until 31 October 2028.

Delegated decision:

It was agreed that the report be noted.