Minute of Meeting held in the Council Offices, Dingwall on Tuesday 12th June 2007 at 11.00 am
Present:-
Mr Richard Greene
Mr Drew Miller
Mr Allan Henderson
Mrs Margaret Paterson
Mr John Laing
In attendance:
Alaisdair Mackenzie, Area Solicitor
Linda Hay, Licensing Officer
Angela Mair, Administrative Assistant
Cheryl Thomson, Administrative Assistant
Civic Government
(In the Chair – Mrs Margaret Paterson)
1. Apologies
Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Mr David Alston, Mr Craig Fraser, Mr Brendan Gormley, Mrs Angela MacLean, Mr Brian Murphy and Mrs Jean Urquhart.
Exclusion of Press and Public
The Sub-Committee resolved that under Section 50(A) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of Items 2, 3 and 4 on the grounds that they involved disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.
2. Application for Taxi Driver’s Licence – James Robertson
There was circulated to Members present at the Meeting Report number LCR-001 by the Area Solicitor on an application for a Taxi Driver’s Licence submitted by Mr James Robertson. The Report explained that there had been no objections received from the Police or any other party, however the application disclosed a previous conviction.
The applicant had been invited to attend or be represented at the meeting but had failed to put in an appearance or be represented.
The Committee agreed to DEFER consideration of the application to the next meeting of the Licensing Committee in Portree on 21st August 2007 and to ask Mr Robertson to attend or be represented.
3. Application for Taxi Operator and Taxi Driver Licences – Ewen Lachlan Campbell
The Chairman welcomed the applicant Mr Ewen Lachlan Campbell to the Meeting. The Chairman then outlined the procedure which would be followed by the Committee, copies of which had previously been circulated to all parties present.
There was circulated to all Members and parties present at the Meeting Report number LCR-002 by the Area Solicitor on applications for a Taxi Operator and Taxi Driver’s Licences submitted by Mr Campbell. The Report explained that there had been no objections received from the Police or any other party, however the application disclosed a previous conviction.
The meeting then followed the Hearing Procedure, with the applicant being heard in relation to all matters raised in the Report and Members of the Committee asking questions of the applicant.
The Committee AGREED to grant a Taxi Operator and Taxi Driver’s Licence to Mr Campbell for a period of three years.
The applicant then left the meeting.
4. Application for Taxi Driver’s Licence – Richard Ferguson
The Chairman welcomed the applicant Mr Richard Ferguson, and Inspector Pamela Ross, Northern Constabulary to the Meeting. The Chairman then outlined the procedure which would be followed by the Committee, copies of which had previously been circulated to all parties present.
There was circulated to all Members and parties present at the Meeting Report number LCR-003 by the Area Solicitor on an application for a Taxi Driver’s Licence submitted by Mr Richard Ferguson.
The meeting then followed the Hearing Procedure, with the applicant and Inspector Ross being heard in relation to all matters raised in the Report and Members of the Committee asking questions of the applicant and Inspector Ross.
The Committee AGREED to grant a Taxi Driver’s Licence to Mr Ferguson for a period of one year. The applicant was advised that he would need to re-apply at the end of the one year licence term but that no fee would be payable.
All parties to the application and the Northern Constabulary representative then left the meeting.
5. Application for HMO Licence – Syed Rahman
There was circulated at the Meeting Report number LCR-004 by the Area Solicitor which advised of receipt of an application for a House in Multiple Occupation Licence for Flat 3, Cromarty House, Dingwall and of representations received from the Fire Service and TEC Services.
The representations from the Fire Service detailed remedial works that would require to be carried out before the fire safety arrangements in the premises could be considered satisfactory for an occupancy of this nature, The Report advised that the applicant had been informed of the requirements in this regard and the recommendations from TEC Services relating to the Council’s adopted standards.
In order to allow the applicant time to undertake the remedial works required the Report recommended that the Committee defer determination of the application either (a) to allow it to be approved under delegated powers in the event of the premises meeting the required standards or (b) to a future meeting of the Committee when the application would be determined in terms of the Hearings Procedure.
The Committee AGREED the recommendation.
The meeting ended at 11.50 a.m.