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 1 April 2025 at 11.00am.  

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 and 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 25 February 2025.

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

There is circulated Report No HLC/46/25 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 13 February to 19 March 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/47/25 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 13 February to 16 March 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/48/25 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/49/25 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 Short Term Let licensing
Achd Riaghaltais Chatharra (Alba) 1982 Ceadachd Aontaidhean Màil Geàrr-ùine 

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

There is circulated Report No HLC/50/25 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.

6.2 Application for grant of a short term let licence – Culligran Chalets, Kiltarlity, IV4 7JX

There is circulated Report No HLC/51/25 by the Principal Solicitor relating to an application which has been received from Mr Christopher Frank Spencer-Nairn for the grant of a short term let licence (Ward 12 - Aird and Loch Ness).

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

7. Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 Public Entertainment Licence
Achd Riaghaltais Chatharra (Alba) 1982 Ceadachdan Aoigheachd Phoblaich 

7.1 Premises: Cawdor Castle, Cawdor, Nairn

There is circulated Report No HLC/52/25 by the Principal Solicitor relating to an application from Cawdor Castle Ltd in respect of the renewal of a public entertainment licence for Cawdor Castle, Cawdor, Nairn (Ward 18 – Nairn and Cawdor area).

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

7.2 Premises: Leanach Farm, Inverness

There is circulated Report No HLC/53/25 by the Principal Solicitor relating to an application from Iain MacKay respect of the renewal of a public entertainment licence for Leanach Farm, Inverness (Ward 19 – Inverness South).

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

8. 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.

9. Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 Short Term Let licensing
Achd Riaghaltais Chatharra (Alba) 1982 Ceadachd Aontaidhean Màil Geàrr-ùine 

9.1 Application for grant of a short term let licence – Market Brae Guesthouse, 15, Ardconnel Street, Inverness, IV2 3EU

There is circulated to members only Report No HLC/54/25 by the Principal Solicitor relating to an application which has been received from Miss Nancy Wilson for the grant of a short term let licence (Ward 14 – Inverness Central).

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

9.2 Application for grant of a short term let licence – 1 Altvaid, Dunvegan, IV55 8ZF

There is circulated to members only Report No HLC/55/25 by the Principal Solicitor relating to an application which has been received from Mr Lorne MacLeod Ferguson 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.

9.3 Application for grant of a short term let licence – Badnaheen, Altnabreac, Halkirk, KW12 6UR

There is circulated to members only Report No HLC/56/25 by the Principal Solicitor relating to an application which has been received from Ms Onelisiwe Ngxumza 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.

9.4 Short term let licence holder - Ms Onelisiwe Ngxumza - Keeper’s Cottage, Altnabreac, Halkirk, KW12 6UR  

There is circulated to members only Report No HLC/57/25  by the Principal Solicitor relating to Ms Onelisiwe Ngxumza who is the holder of a short term let licence (Ward 3 - Wick and East Caithness).

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

9.5 Short term let licence holder - Ms Onelisiwe Ngxumza - Langa Cottage, Altnabreac, Halkirk, KW12 6UR

There is circulated to members only Report No HLC/58/25  by the Principal Solicitor relating to Ms Onelisiwe Ngxumza who is the holder of a short term let licence (Ward 3 - Wick and East Caithness).

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

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

10.1 Application for a street traders employee licence – Michael Maggs

There is circulated to members only Report No HLC/59/25 by the Principal Solicitor relating to an application which has been received from Michael Maggs for a street traders employee licence (Ward 7 – Tain and Easter Ross).

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

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

11.1 Taxi driver’s and taxi operator’s licence – George Fox 

There is circulated to members only Report No HLC/60/25  by the Principal Solicitor relating to George Fox who is the holder of a taxi driver’s licence and taxi operator’s licence (Ward 19 – Inverness South).

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

11.2 Taxi driver’s and taxi operator’s licence - Bilal Qayyum  

There is circulated to members only Report No HLC/61/25 by the Principal Solicitor relating to Bilal Qayyum who is the holder of a taxi driver’s licence and taxi operator’s licence (Ward 13 – Inverness West).

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

11.3 Taxi operator’s licences – Caroline McKeown  

There is circulated to members only Report No HLC/62/25 by the Principal Solicitor relating to Caroline McKeown who is the holder of two taxi operator’s licences (Ward 20 – Badenoch and Strathspey).

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

12. 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

12.1 Application for a temporary private hire car operator’s licence – Umer Aziz

There is circulated to members only Report No HLC/63/25 by the Principal Solicitor relating to an application which has been received from Umer Aziz for a temporary private hire car operator’s licence (Ward 14 – Inverness Central).

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

12.2 Application for a private hire car driver’s licence – James Williamson

There is circulated to members only Report No HLC/64/25 by the Principal Solicitor relating to an application which has been received from James Williamson for a private hire car driver's licence (Ward 14 – Inverness Central).

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

12.3 Application for a private hire car operator’s licence – James Williamson

There is circulated to members only Report No HLC/65/25 by the Principal Solicitor relating to an application which has been received from James Williamson for a private hire car operator’s licence (Ward 14 – Inverness Central).

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