Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Highland Licensing Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Tuesday, 26 March 2024 at 12 noon. 

You are invited to attend and a note of the business to be considered is attached. 

Webcast Notice:  This meeting will be filmed and broadcast over the internet on the Highland Council website and will be archived and available for viewing for 12 months thereafter. 

Members are reminded that during determination of Licensing Items, in order to be entitled to participate in any vote, Members must be present throughout all of the proceedings. 

Members are further reminded that mobile devices, including mobile phones, can be used for following the agenda/reports and delivering speeches but should not be used for any form of communication (text or tweet) during the meeting.

Yours faithfully 

Iain Meredith, Acting Principal Solicitor – Regulatory Services 

(for Head of Legal and Governance)  

Business 

1. Calling of the Roll and Apologies for Absence

Gairm a’ Chlàir agus Leisgeulan

2. Declarations of Interest/Transparency Statement

Foillseachaidhean Com-pàirt/Aithris Fhollaiseachd

Members are asked to consider whether they have an interest to declare in relation to any item on the agenda for this meeting.  Any Member making a declaration of interest should provide some information on the nature of the interest and leave the meeting at the appropriate time.  Advice may be sought from officers prior to the meeting taking place.

3. Confirmation of minutes             

Dearbhadh a’ gheàrr-chunntais

There is submitted for confirmation as a correct record the minute of the meeting of the Highland Licensing Committee held on 13 February 2024.

4. Licences granted under delegated powers           

Ceadachdan a bhuilicheadh fo ùghdarras air a thiomnadh

There is circulated Report No HLC/014/24 by the Principal Solicitor which details all Licences which have been granted under delegated powers under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 granted in the period from 1 February 2024 to 13 March 2024.

The Committee is invited to note the report.

4.1 Short Term Let Licences granted under delegated powers

Ceadachd Aontaidhean Màil Geàrr-ùine Ceadachdan a bhuilicheadh fo ùghdarras air a thiomnadh

There is circulated Report No HLC/015/24 by the Principal Solicitor which details all Short Term Let Licences which have been granted under delegated powers under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 granted in the period from 1 February 2024 to 13 March 2024.

The Committee is invited to note the report.

5. Pending applications – 3 monthly considerations          

Iarrtasan ri thighinn – beachdachaidhean 3 mìosach

There is circulated Report No HLC/016/24 by the Principal Solicitor relating to applications which are currently pending for the grant or renewal of licences under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982.

The Committee is invited to agree to defer the determination of the applications, either:

(a) to allow them to be approved under delegated powers in the event that no objections/representations are received and all outstanding documentation has been received from the applicants; or

(b) to a future meeting of the Committee when the applications will be determined in terms of the Hearings Procedure.

5.1 Short Term Let Pending applications – 3 monthly considerations Ceadachd Aontaidhean Màil Geàrr-ùine Iarrtasan ri thighinn – beachdachaidhean 3 mìosach                            

There is circulated Report No HLC/017/24 by the Principal Solicitor outlining the Short Term Let applications which are currently pending for the grant or renewal of licences under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982.

6. Review of Civic Licensing Fees                                                      

There is circulated Report No HLC/018/24 by the Principal Solicitor advising that the licensing authority is required to periodically assess the fees it charges for civic licences to ensure that the income is sufficient to cover the expense of administering the licensing regime. 

The Committee is invited to:

i. review the income and expenditure relating to civic, taxi, and private hire car (PHC) licensing as summarised in appendices 1 and 2; and

ii. determine the level of fees to be charged as of 1 July 2024.

7. Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 

Short Term Let licensing           

Achd Riaghaltais Chatharra (Alba) 1982

Ceadachd Aontaidhean Màil Geàrr-ùine 

7.1 Application for grant of a short term let licence – Fishertown House, 37A Harbour Street, Nairn, IV12 4NX

There is circulated Report No HLC/019/24 by the Principal Solicitor relating to an application which has been received from Mrs Pauline Jane Barron for the grant of a short term let licence (Ward 18 – Nairn and Cawdor).

The Committee is invited to determine this application in accordance with the Council’s Hearings Procedure.

7.2 Application for grant of a short term let licence – Cherry Tree Pod, 2 The Cottages, Littlemill, Nairn, IV12 5QL

There is circulated Report No HLC/020/24 by the Principal Solicitor relating to an application which has been received from Mr Lee Michael Molloy on behalf of Highland Lollee Limited for the grant of a short term let licence (Ward 18 – Nairn and Cawdor).

The Committee is invited to determine this application in accordance with the Council’s Hearings Procedure.

7.3 Application for grant of a short term let licence – Mountain View Lodge, Dulnain Bridge, Grantown on Spey, PH26 3LY

There is circulated Report No HLC/021/24 by the Principal Solicitor relating to an application which has been received from Mrs Paula Mary Duthie for the grant of a short term let licence (Ward 20 – Badenoch and Strathspey).

The Committee is invited to determine this application in accordance with the Council’s Hearings Procedure.

7.4 Application for grant of a short term let licence – Healabhal, Balmeanach, Struan, Isle of Skye, IV56 8FH

There is circulated Report No HLC/022/24 by the Principal Solicitor relating to an application which has been received from Mr John Pearson Arthur on behalf of Head in the Skye Limited for the grant of a short term let licence (Ward 10 – Eilean a' Cheò).

The Committee is invited to determine this application in accordance with the Council’s Hearings Procedure.

8. Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 

Public Entertainment Licence           

Achd Riaghaltais Chatharra (Alba) 1982

Ceadachdan Aoigheachd Phoblaich 

8.1 Premises: Glenelg and Arnisdale Village Hall, Glenelg, IV40 8JD

There is circulated Report No HLC/023/24 by the Principal Solicitor relating to an application for the grant of a public entertainment licence for Glenelg and Arnisdale Village Hall (Ward 05 – Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh).

The Committee is invited to determine this matter in accordance with the Council’s Hearings Procedure.

9. Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 

Skin Piercing and Tattooing licence         

Achd Riaghaltais Chatharra (Alba) 1982

Ceadachdan Dhràibhearan / Oibrichean Tagsaidh

9.1 Application for a skin piercing and tattooing licence – Sleeping Beauty, 14b Margaret Street, Inverness.  

There is circulated Report No HLC/024/24 by the Principal Solicitor relating to an application which has been received from Lilac Miller for a skin piercing and tattooing licence in respect of premises at Sleeping Beauty, 14b Margaret Street, Inverness (Ward 14 – Inverness Central).

The Committee is invited to determine this application in accordance with the Council’s Hearings Procedure.

10. Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 

Private hire car driver’s / operator’s licences       

Achd Riaghaltais Chatharra (Alba) 1982                                      

Iarrtasan airson ceadachdan do dhràibhearan / oibrichean chàraichean airson fastadh prìobhaideach

10.1 Private Hire Car operator’s licence – Taxi 24/7  

There is circulated Report No HLC/025/24 by the Principal Solicitor relating to Taxi 24/7 who are the holders of a private hire car operator’s licence (Ward 18 – Nairn and Cawdor).

The Committee is invited to determine this matter in accordance with the Council’s Hearings Procedure.  

10.2 Application for a private hire car operator’s licence – Highlander Cars

There is circulated Report No HLC/026/24 by the Principal Solicitor relating to an application which has been received from Highlander Cars for a private hire car operator’s licence (Ward 13 – Inverness West).

The Committee is invited to determine this application in accordance with the Council’s Hearings Procedure.

11. The Committee is asked to resolve that, under Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the public be excluded from the meeting during discussion of the following Items on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.

12. Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 

Taxi & PHC driver’s / operator’s licences        

Achd Riaghaltais Chatharra (Alba) 1982

Ceadachdan Dhràibhearan / Oibrichean Tagsaidh

12.1 Application for a taxi driver’s licence – Rzgar Ali Mahmod 

There is circulated to members only Report No HLC/027/24  by the Principal Solicitor in relation to an application for a taxi driver’s licence from Rzgar Ali Mahmod (Ward 14 – Inverness Central).

The Committee is invited to determine this application in accordance with the Council’s Hearings Procedure.

12.2 Taxi driver’s licence –  David G Jones

There is circulated to members only Report No HLC/028/24 by the Principal Solicitor relating to licensed taxi driver David G Jones (Ward 02 – Thurso and Northwest Caithness).

The Committee is invited to determine this matter in accordance with the Council’s Hearings Procedure.

12.3 Application for a taxi driver’s licence – Connor Macphee

There is circulated to members only Report No HLC/029/24 by the Principal Solicitor relating to an application which has been received from Connor Macphee for a taxi driver’s licence (Ward 06 – Cromarty Firth).

The Committee is invited to determine this matter in accordance with the Council’s Hearings Procedure.

12.4   Application for a Private Hire Car driver’s licence – Serdasht Karim Reza Kadir

There is circulated to members only Report No HLC/030/24 by the Principal Solicitor relating to an application which has been received from Serdasht Karim Reza Kadir for a private hire car driver’s licence (Ward 16 – Inverness Millburn).

The Committee is invited to determine this application in accordance with the Council’s Hearings Procedure.

13. Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 

Short Term Let licensing         

Achd Riaghaltais Chatharra (Alba) 1982

Ceadachd Aontaidhean Màil Geàrr-ùine 

13.1 Application for grant of a short term let licence – Fairy Retreat, 37 Idrigill, Uig, Isle of Skye, IV51 9XU

There is circulated to members only Report No HLC/031/24 by the Principal Solicitor relating to an application which has been received from Mr James Grant Hall on behalf of The Fairy Retreat Limited for the grant of a short term let licence (Ward 10 – Eilean a' Cheò).).

The Committee is invited to determine this application in accordance with the Council’s Hearings Procedure.