The Licensing and Safety Committee convened to discuss several key issues, including an operational report on licensing activities, a street trading consent application, and matters relating to public and private hire driver licences. The committee refused a street trader consent application, chose to admonish two licence holders regarding their future conduct, and approved a public / private hire driver licence application.

Operational Report

The committee received an Operational Report from the Executive Director (Corporate Core) that provided an overview of the Licensing Service's activities. The report included updates on compliance and enforcement actions, licensing hearings, partnership working, and other initiatives.

Key points from the report:

• Compliance and Enforcement: The Licensing Service addressed various complaints and enforcement matters across clients, premises, and vehicles.
• Licensing Hearings Sub-Committee: The sub-committee addressed an objection to a temporary event notice for New Eagle Coffee Bar and granted a club premises certificate for Bolton Wyresdale Amateur Football and Sports Club. They also granted a premises licence for AY Lounge and Bar.
• Partnership Working: Bury Trading Standards and the Council's Licensing Team collaborated with Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and Immigration on the Safer Summer initiative, targeting convenience stores, vape shops, and barbers. This resulted in the seizure of illegal vapes, illicit tobacco, and other items with an estimated street value of £37,500.
• DBS Consent: Following a previous report on 5 June 2025, the Licensing Service followed up on licensed drivers who had not provided consent for a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. An operational decision was made to suspend 14 drivers, but further responses reduced the number of immediate suspensions to five.
• Greater Manchester Taxi Review: The Licensing Unit Manager has been collaborating with nine Greater Manchester Licensing Authorities, Transport for Greater Manchester, and Arup/Aecom on the Greater Manchester Taxi Review.
• Inquiry by the Transport Select Committee: The Licensing Unit Manager has been working with the nine GM Licensing Authorities and TfGM to prepare a response to the Transport Select Committee's inquiry into standards for taxis and private hire vehicles.
• Clean Taxi Fund: The Licensing Unit Manager has been working with the nine GM Licensing Authorities and TfGM on the proposed Clean Taxi Fund.
• Parklife: A debrief was conducted on the work undertaken by officers from the Public Protection Service during the Parklife event (13-15 June 2025). Enforcement actions included checking pedlars, moving on unlicensed traders, issuing warnings for disposable vape sales, monitoring licensed premises, managing traffic, and addressing public nuisance and safety issues.
• Oasis: A debrief was conducted on the work undertaken by officers from the Public Protection Service during the Oasis concerts. Enforcement actions included seizing infringing items, displacing traders/pedlars, managing noise, monitoring licensed premises, ensuring public safety, and enforcing intellectual property rights.

Street Trading Consent Application

The committee considered an application for a street trader consent. The applicant and a family member were present at the meeting. The committee unanimously resolved to refuse the application, citing schedule 4 (7) of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982¹. There is no right of appeal against the decision.

Suspension / Revocation of Public / Private Hire Driver Licences

The committee addressed the suitability of two licence holders to be private hire drivers in Bury.

• Licence Holder 9/2025: After considering a report and oral representations from the licence holder and their representative, the committee resolved to admonish the licensee as to future conduct, taking into account the council's conviction policy and guidelines and in accordance with the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976².

• Licence Holder 10/2025: After considering a report and oral representations from the licence holder and their representative, the committee resolved to admonish the licensee as to future conduct, taking into account the council's conviction policy and guidelines and in accordance with the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.

Application for Public / Private Hire Driver Licence

The committee reviewed an application for a public / private hire driver licence (Client Number 11/2025). The applicant was out of the country but had requested that the committee determine the case in their absence. The committee resolved to grant the application for a three-year period, deeming the applicant a fit and proper person to hold a licence, taking into account the Council's Conviction Policy and Guidelines, the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, and statutory guidance issued by the Secretary of State under section 177 of the Policing and Crime Act 2017³.