Agenda item

A report from the Executive Director Operations is attached. Michael Bridge, Licensing Unit Manager to provide an update at the meeting.

The Executive Director of Operation submitted a report advising Members on operational issues within the Licensing Service.

The report set out updates in respect of the following issues:

Executive Member/Chair of Licensing Panel Meeting Event – 28^th February 2020

The Head of Trading Standards & Licensing, Executive Members and Councillor Rafiq attended an event ran by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Transport for Greater Manchester and the Greater Manchester Licensing Network on the 28^th February 2020.

Purple Flag Assessment

Bury Council have been successful in gaining the Purple Flag Accreditation for the 5^th consecutive  year following officers of the licensing team working with other colleagues within the Council to prepare for the external assessment undertaken by the Association of Town Centre Managers for the Purple Flag accreditation. The external assessment took place on the 16^th November 2019.

Bradley Fold

On the 29^th January 2020, the testing of licensed hackney carriage and private hire vehicles returned to Bradley Fold following the fire in February 2019.

Immediate Revocation of a Private Hire Drivers/Hackney Carriage

Drivers Licence

On the 28^th January 2020, the Licensing Service received a complaint about

the conduct of a private hire driver.

On the 29^th January 2020; the licensing service received another complaint from Greater Manchester Police that this driver had been released under investigation for another incident which occurred on 21^st January 2020.

On the 29^th January 2020; the licensing service received written communication from Rochdale Council that this driver had previously held a Private Hire drivers badge with Rochdale Borough Council before it was revoked in February 2019 following the receipt of allegations similar to those mentioned above. This was not disclosed to Bury Council’s Licensing Service.

The Head of Service for Trading Standards and Licensing in consultation with the Chairman of the Licensing and Safety Panel decided to revoke the driver’s private hire drivers licence with immediate effect on the grounds of public safety.

Mandatory Safeguarding Training

Members should be aware that on the 7^th March 2019, they considered a report regarding the implementation of mandatory safeguarding training for all new applicants as a pre-requisite prior to application and that existing drivers would be required to undertake the training within 12 months of the implementation date. The approved supplier Personnel Checks have run numerous sessions over the last 12 months. Members agreed that this should be implemented

During the 12 month period the Licensing Service have been contacting the existing drivers by letter and telephone calls to ensure that they undertake the mandatory training.

Personnel Checks are running a final session on the 17^th March 2020 for those drivers who have not undertaken the training.

Once this session has taken place, the Licensing Service will review the licensing database to ascertain who has not undertaken the mandatory safeguarding training, those who are identified will be put before a meeting of the Licensing and Safety Panel to consideration as to their suitability to hold their Hackney Carriage and/or Private hire Drivers Badge in the future. 

Request from Hackney Carriage Drivers Association

The Licensing Service have received a request from the Hackney Carriage Drivers Association to review the Hackney Carriage Fare Table. This request is currently being progressed through the Council’s Governance process.

It was agreed:

That the report be noted.