Issue - meetings

Consideration was given to the Licensing Annual report which informed Members of the activities undertaken to discharge the Council’s Licensing function during the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025.

Members were informed that There were two strategic objectives that related to Licensing:

1.    To work with businesses to ensure they were licensed and compliant. This covered:

·         Proactively licensing premises and individuals engaged in alcohol supply, entertainment and late-night refreshment.

·         Participation in Pubwatch schemes, partnership projects and joint, intelligence led inspections to ensure licence conditions were not being breached.

·         Promotion of the four licensing objectives and three gambling objectives.

2.    The second relateed to ensuring safe passenger journeys, in safe licensed vehicles with safe licensed drivers. This covered:

·         Undertaking inspections of licensed vehicles.

·         Vetting new applicants for licences to ensure they were fit and proper.

·         Ensuring that passengers were safe in vehicles by responding to complaints and investigating offences and breaches of conditions

The Licensing Act 2003 was governed by four licensing objectives:

Prevention of crime and disorder

Prevention of public nuisance

Public Safety

Protection of Children from Harm

Members were informed about the number of licensed premises under the Act, the number of applications considered by the Licensing Premises Panel and the number of complaints related to licensed premises. Members were also informed about the number of permissions under the Gambling Act 2005. A rise in the number of premises licences was highlighted. In response to members questions on the issue of Personal Licences officers reported that these licences were issued for life but could be revoked in limited circumstances.

Members were informed that officers continued to work with the private hire and hackney trade to ensure effective communication and consultation took place. The Committee were provided with an update on the details of applicants and drivers brought before the Licensing Drivers Panel over the last twelve months. Members were provided with the breakdown of licences in force and the vehicle testing data. The Licensing Team also administered and enforced a wide range of other license, registrations and permits and the numbers of each were given.

Members were informed of future challenges and changes with regular changes to legislation and guidance affecting licensing together with consultations. A current study was being undertaken on Taxi Licensing in Greater Manchester to inform a plan to make GM the first choice for drivers, vehicle owners and operators. All licence holders had been invited to take part by completing the survey online. In-person sessions were also being held for those who could not complete online. In depth interviews were also taking place.

Members were also informed of current projects which were underway or due to start in the coming months which included:

1.    Unmet Demand Survey – the Licensing Service had instructed CTS Traffic & Transportation to conduct an Unmet Demand Survey on hackney carriage vehicles. As the number of licences issued for HCV in Oldham were limited to 85, a survey must be carried out every 3-5 years to determine any unmet  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6