• Agenda

Minutes of Meeting of the Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross Licensing Committee held in Lairg Community Centre on Tuesday 2nd October, 2007

Present:

Mr. Alasdair Rhind, Chairman
Mr. William MacKay
Mrs. Deirdre Mackay
Mrs. Linda Munro
 Mr. John Rosie
Mrs. Maxine Smith

In Attendance:

Mrs. Fiona I. Sinclair, Area Solicitor
Inspector Mackinnon, Northern Constabulary

1.  Apologies for Absence

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Mr. David Flear, Mr. Michael Finlayson and Mrs. Katrina MacNab.

2.  Minutes of Meetings

The Minutes of the Meetings of the Licensing Committee held on 19th June and 21st August 2007 were held as read and were approved. 

3.  Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 – Application for Renewal of Taxi Driver’s Licence – Paul Thatcher

The Committee was invited to consider an application for renewal of a taxi driver’s licence lodged by Mr. Paul Thatcher.  Mr. Thatcher was present at the meeting. 

A copy of the Council’s Hearing’s Procedure had been circulated with the agenda for the Meeting.  A copy of the Committee Report and Mr. Thatcher’s application were circulated to the Committee members at the Meeting.  Mrs. Sinclair explained that there had been no objections to the application and that the application had been brought to the Committee as Mr Thatcher had six penalty points on his driving licence.  She said that the Committee in determining the application had to decide whether Mr Thatcher was a fit and proper person to hold a taxi driver’s licence.  Mr Thatcher was invited to address the Committee.  At the conclusion of the hearing the Committee agreed to renew Mr Thatcher’s taxi driver’s licence. 

4.  Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 – Application for Renewal of Taxi Driver’s Licence – Jamal M L Abdulla

The Committee was invited to consider an application for a taxi driver’s licence lodged by Mr. Jamal Abdula.  Mrs Sinclair explained that the application had been brought to Committee for determination following a letter of objection from the Police.  Mr Abdula and his representative had been invited to attend the meeting.  The Committee noted that neither Mr. Abdula nor any representative were in attendance.  The Committee noted that Inspector Mackinnon was present to represent Northern Constabulary at the hearing.  The Committee decided to proceed with the hearing in the absence of Mr. Abdula. 

A copy of the Council’s Hearing’s Procedure had been circulated with the agenda for the Meeting.  A copy of the Committee Report, Mr. Abdula’s application and the letter of objection were circulated to the Committee members at the meeting.  Mrs. Sinclair explained that these documents had been sent to Mr. Abdula with the invitation to attend the hearing.   Inspector Mackinnon detailed the terms of the objection as outlined in the letter. 

At the conclusion of the hearing, the Committee resolved to refuse Mr. Abdula’s  application.  Mrs. Sinclair undertook to write to Mr. Abdula with a note of the Committee’s decision.