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, 25 February 2025 at 11.00 am.  

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 

Claire McArthur, Principal Solicitor – Regulatory Services 
(for Chief Officer - Legal & Corporate Governance)  

Business 

1. Apologies for absence 
Leisgeulan

2. Declarations of interest 
Foillseachaidhean Com-pàirt

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 indicate whether it is a financial or non-financial interest and include some information on the nature of the interest. 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 7 January 2025.

4. Licences granted under delegated powers
Ceadachdan a bhuilicheadh fo ùghdarras air a thiomnadh

There is circulated Report No HLC/27/25 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 17 December 2024 to 12 February 2025.

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/28/25 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 17 December 2024 to 12 February 2025.

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/29/25 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 Report recommends that the Committee 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/30/25 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. Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 Private hire car driver knowledge testing

There is circulated Report No HLC/31/25 by the Principal Solicitor inviting the Committee to consider (a) whether to introduce knowledge testing for private hire car drivers in the Highland area and, if so, the knowledge testing requirements which should apply, or (b) whether to go out to public consultation before reaching any decision on these questions.

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 – Parliament House Reiff, Achiltibuie, IV26 2YS

There is circulated Report No HLC/32/25 by the Principal Solicitor relating to an application which has been received from Mr Calum Kerr for the grant of a short term let licence (Ward 5 – Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh).

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 – Netherton Farm B&B, Netherton, Culbokie, IV7 8JH 

There is circulated Report No HLC/33/25 by the Principal Solicitor relating to an application which has been received from Ms Romay Margaret Garcia for the grant of a short term let licence (Ward 9 – Black Isle).

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 – Star Croft, Watten, Wick, KW1 5XW

There is circulated Report No HLC/34/25 by the Principal Solicitor relating to an application which has been received from Mrs Elizabeth Evelyn Davison for the grant of a short term let licence (Ward 3 – Wick and East Caithness).

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 – Craigard House, Kinchurdy Road, Boat Of Garten, PH24 3BP

There is circulated Report No HLC/35/25 by the Principal Solicitor relating to an application which has been received from Mr Keith Burns 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.

7.5 Application for grant of a short term let licence – Balnakeil Farm Bothy, Balnakeil, Durness, IV27 4PX

There is circulated Report No HLC/36/25 by the Principal Solicitor relating to an application which has been received from Mrs Elizabeth Elliot for the grant of a short term let licence (Ward 1 – North, West and Central Sutherland).

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

7.6 Application for grant of a short term let licence – Cove Sea, Kyleakin, IV41 8PN

There is circulated Report No HLC/37/25 by the Principal Solicitor relating to an application which has been received from Mrs Shelagh Fraser 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.

7.7 Application for grant of a short term let licence – 2 South Erradale, Gairloch, IV21 2AU 

There is circulated Report No HLC/38/25 by the Principal Solicitor relating to an application which has been received from Mrs Iona Tibbitt for the grant of a short term let licence (Ward 5 – Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh).

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

8. Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 Taxi driver’s/operator’s licences
Achd Riaghaltais Chatharra (Alba) 1982 Ceadachdan Dhràibhearan/Oibrichean Tagsaidh

8.1 Application for a taxi driver’s licence – Desmond Gillies  

There is circulated to members only Report No HLC/39/25 by the Principal Solicitor relating to an application for the grant of a taxi driver’s licence (Ward 20 – Badenoch and Strathspey).

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

9. Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 Street Traders licence
Achd Riaghaltais Chatharra (Alba) 1982 Iarrtas airson ceadachd neach-malairt sràide

9.1 Application for a street trader’s licence – Connor Rae

There is circulated Report No HLC/40/25 by the Principal Solicitor relating to an application for the grant of a street trader’s licence by Connor Rae (Ward 14 – Inverness Central).

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

9.2 Application for a temporary street trader’s licence – Archie Bagshaw

There is circulated Report No HLC/41/25 by the Principal Solicitor relating to an application for the grant of a temporary street trader’s licence by Archie Bagshaw.

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

10. 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.

11. Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 Taxi driver’s/operator’s licences
Achd Riaghaltais Chatharra (Alba) 1982 Ceadachdan Dhràibhearan/Oibrichean Tagsaidh

11.1 Application for a taxi operator’s licence – Caroline McKeown

There is circulated to members only Report No HLC/42/25 by the Principal Solicitor relating to relating to an application for the renewal of a taxi operator’s licence by Caroline McKeown (Ward 20 – Badenoch & Strathspey).

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

11.2 Taxi operator’s and taxi driver’s licence – Phillipe Brooks

There is circulated to members only Report No HLC/43/25 by the Principal Solicitor relating to Phillipe Brooks who is the holder of a taxi operator’s licence and taxi driver’s licence (Ward 20 – Badenoch & Strathspey).

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

11.3 Taxi operator’s and taxi driver’s licence – MHD Sarsar  

There is circulated to members only Report No HLC/44/25 by the Principal Solicitor relating to MHD Sarsar who is the holder of a taxi operator’s licence and taxi driver’s licence (Ward 13 – Inverness West).

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

12. Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 Street Traders licence
Achd Riaghaltais Chatharra (Alba) 1982 Iarrtas airson ceadachd neach-malairt sràide

12.1 Street Trader’s Licence – MHD Sarsar

There is circulated to members only Report No HLC/45/25 by the Principal Solicitor relating to a street trader’s licence held by MHD Sarsar (Ward 13 – Inverness West).

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