• Agenda

Minute of the meeting of the Highland Licensing Committee held in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Tuesday 5 November 2013 at 10.30 am.

 

Present:

 

Dr I Cockburn, Mr A Duffy, Mr R Greene, Mr A Henderson, Mr R Laird (from Item 8), Mrs L Macdonald, Mr W Mackay (by video conference from Wick), Mr D Millar, Mr J Rosie (from Item 6), Ms M Smith, Mr J Stone and Mr H Wood.

 

In Attendance:

 

Mr A Mackenzie, Legal Manager (Clerk)
Ms S Blease, Principal Solicitor (Regulatory Services)
Mr M Elsey, Senior Licensing Officer
Mrs A MacArthur, Administrative Assistant

 

Also Attending:

 

Inspector A Henderson, Police Scotland

 

Ms M Smith in the Chair

 

The Chairman confirmed that the meeting would be webcast and gave a short briefing on the Council’s webcasting procedure and protocol.

 

Business

 

1. Apologies for Absence
Leisgeulan

 

None.

 

2. Declarations of Interest
Foillseachaidhean Com-pàirt 

 

There were no declarations of interest.

 

3. Confirmation of Minutes
Dearbhadh a’ Gheàrr-chunntais

 

There had been submitted for confirmatio as a correct record the minute of meeting of the Committee held on 1 October 2013 which was APPROVED.

 

The Legal Manager updated the Committee with regard to two appeals lodged by Mr J Hutton (suspension of Taxi Operator’s and Taxi Driver’s Licence) and Mr F Carrison (refusal of application for Private Hire Car Driver’s Licence) against the decisions of the Committee earlier in the year. Mr Hutton had agreed to abandon his appeal and Mr Carrison’s appeal had been dismissed. In both cases the Council was awarded expenses.

 

4. Licences Granted Under Delegated Powers
Ceadachdan a Bhuilicheadh fo Ùghdarras air a Thiomnadh

 

There had been circulated Report No HLC/076/13 by the Legal Manager  detailing those licences granted under delegated powers under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 and the Marriage (Approval of Places) (Scotland) Regulations 2002 in the period from 18 September 2013 to 22 October 2013.

 

The Committee NOTED the report.

 

5. Pending Applications - 3 Monthly Considerations
Iarrtasan ri Thighinn – Beachdachaidhean 3 Mìosach

 

There had been circulated Report No HLC/077/13 by the Legal Manager relating to applications which were currently pending for the grant or renewal of licences under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982. The Report recommended that the Committee agree to defer the determination of the applications, either: (i) to allow them to be approved under delegated powers in the event that all responses and no objections were received, and all outstanding documentation had been received from the applicants, or (ii) to a future meeting of the Committee when the applications would be determined in terms of the Hearings Procedure.

 

The Committee AGREED the recommendation.

 

6.  Dates of Meetings in 2014  
Cinn-latha Choinneamhan ann an 2014

 

The Committee NOTED the following dates for 2014, as agreed at The Highland Council on 24 October 2013, also noting that all meetings were on a Tuesday except the meeting in December which was to be held on a Thursday.  All meetings will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness.

 

4 February 2014
1 April 2014
13 May 2014
17 June 2014
12 August 2014
7 October 2014
4 November 2014
11 December 2014

 

7.  Taxi Tarriff Review
Ath-sgrùdadh air Taraif Thagsaidhean

 

There had been circulated Report No HLC/078/13 by the Legal Manager relating to the process that required to be followed in respect of reviewing the current taxi fare scales which came into effect on 21 January 2013.

 

Mr M Elsey advised, following a question from a Member, that the taxi trade and associations were consulted and provided with an opportunity to submit representations which most usually did..  As part of the statutory process an advert would  be placed in the press and on the Council’s website inviting the public, which includes members of the taxi trade, to submit representations. 
Mr Elsey confirmed that for previous tariff reviews comparison details from other similar sized authorities were obtained and advised that this would once again be provided in respect of this review.

 

The Committee AGREED to commence the review of the current fare scales for taxis on the basis detailed in the Report.

 

8. Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982
Application for Street Trader’s Licence
Achd Riaghaltais Chatharra (Alba) 1982
Iarrtas airson Ceadachd Neach-malairt Sràide

 

8.1 Application for a Street Trader’s Licence – Stuart l W Noakes

 

There had been circulated Report No HLC/079/13 by the Legal Manager relating to an application which had been received from Stuart I W Noakes for the grant of a Street Trader’s Licence.  The Report invited the Committee to determine the matter in accordance with the Hearings Procedure.

 

Mr M Elsey confirmed that Environmental Health Officer had now checked the vehicle in terms of the food hygiene legislation and had no objection to the Licence being granted. Accordingly the Report had been withdrawn and the licence would be issued under delegated powers.

 

The Committee NOTED the position.

 

8.2 Application for a Temporary Street Trader’s Licence – Yvonne Gallacher

 

There had been circulated Report No HLC/080/13 by the Legal Manager relating to an application which had been received from Yvonne Gallacher for the grant of a Street Trader’s Licence (Inverness Central Ward).

 

Mr M Elsey advised that as this application related to trading within the Inverness City Centre, in terms of policy, it required  to be referred to the Committee for determination.

 

The Committee AGREED to grant the application subject to the standard conditions.

 

The meeting closed at 10.40 am.