Agenda and minutes

The agenda and reports associated with this minute can be found at:-

http://committees.aberdeencity.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=149&MId=2930&Ver=4

Please note that if any changes are made to this minute at the point of approval, these will be outlined in the subsequent minute and this document will not be retrospectively altered.

The Committee had before it a number of requests for deputation as follows:

(a)         Mr Tommy Campbell, Unite the Union, in relation to item 5.1 (CCTV – Taxis and Private Hire Cars – Policy Outcomes) on today’s agenda (article 9 refers);

(b)         Mr Russell McLeod, Rainbow Cars Ltd, in relation to item 5.2 (Taxi Demand Survey) on today’s agenda (article 8 refers);

(c)         Mr Tommy Campbell, Unite the Union, in relation to item 5.2 (Taxi Demand Survey) on today’s agenda (article 8 refers); and

(d)         Mr Mark Cullen in relation to item 5.2 (Taxi Demand Survey) on today’s agenda (article 8 refers).

The Committee was advised that request 1(d) as detailed above had not been received within the terms outlined in Standing Order 10(1).

The Committee resolved:-

(i)         to agree to hear requests 1(a) – 1(c) prior to consideration of the report at the appropriate point in the agenda; and

(ii)        to suspend Standing Order 10(1), and to agree to hear request 1(d) prior to consideration of the report at the appropriate point in the agenda.

The Committee had before it the minute of its meeting of 2 September 2014.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the minute as a correct record.

The Committee had before it the minute of its previous meeting of 30 October 2014.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the minute as a correct record.

The Committee had before it the minute of the Licensing Urgent Business Sub Committee of 29 September 2014.

The Committee resolved:-

to note the minute.

The Committee had before it the minute of the Licensing Urgent Business Sub Committee of 16 October 2014.

The Committee resolved:-

to note the minute.

The Committee had before it by way of referral, a report from the Communities, Housing and Infrastructure Committee of 28 October 2014 relating to the licensing of houses in multiple occupation (HMO) and registration of private landlords.

The Communities, Housing and Infrastructure Committee had resolved:

(i)         to agree the following service improvements proposed in section 5.2.7 of the report:

(1)       officers continue to ignore ‘spent’ convictions and approve the applications,

(2)       powers be delegated to the Private Sector Housing Manager and Senior Private Sector Housing Officer (Rented Sector) to approve applications from landlords who had declared unspent convictions and who had appointed registered managing agents; and

(3)       powers be delegated to the Private Sector Housing Manager and Senior Private Sector Housing Officer (Rented Sector) to approve applications from landlords who had declared unspent convictions and who had not appointed registered managing agents, where following an interview, the applicant was considered to be low risk.  (Any applicant considered to be a higher risk would continue to have his/her application referred to the Licensing Committee for determination);

(ii)        to agree the following service improvements proposed in section 5.2.8 of the report:

(1)       that the online database would be set to automatically apply Late Application Fees on the expiry of registrations;

(2)       that Rent Penalty Notices would be served thereafter on landlords who failed to renew their registrations;

(3)       that where landlords had never registered, Rent Penalty Notices would be served after three written reminders;

(iii)       to agree to remit the report to the Licensing Committee on 25 November 2014; and

(iv)       to otherwise note the content of the report.

The Committee resolved:-

to note the content of the report.

The Committee had before it, for its consideration, the applications listed in Appendix A to this minute.

The Committee resolved:-

that all applications be determined on the basis shown in Appendix A and that all licences are subject to the Council’s standard conditions unless otherwise stated.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Prior to consideration of the following item, the Convener and Councillor Graham declared interests as members of Unite.  Neither of the members felt it necessary to leave the meeting during the Council’s deliberations.

Councillor Allan declared an interest in regard to the following item of business by virtue of a personal connection and considered that the nature of her interest required him to withdraw from the meeting and take no part in the deliberations thereon.

(A)       In terms of Standing Order 10(2), the Council received a deputation from Mr Russell McLeod, Rainbow Cars Ltd.  Mr McLeod welcomed the report and explained that despite the recommendations of the survey he wished for the limit on the number of taxi licences to be removed completely.  He highlighted that Rainbow Cars had received 50,000 calls in September 2014 which it could not provide a service to due to the limit on the number of taxi licences.  In order to ensure a quality and efficient service and to meet customers’ requirements he believed that the number of taxis needed to be increased vastly and therefore did not feel that that the proposed increase of 30 taxi licences would meet the existing demand.

Members asked a number of questions of the deputation.

(B)       In terms of Standing Order 10(2), the Council received a deputation from Mr Tommy Campbell, Unite the Union, who requested that further consultation on the survey report be undertaken.  He explained that further consultation and input from the trade was required in order to ensure the survey explored all potential solutions to existing taxi demand.  Therefore, he requested that the Committee defer consideration of the report and request officers to arrange a meeting with Committee, author of the report and all interested parties and report back thereafter.

Members asked a number of questions of the deputation.

(C)      In terms of Standing Order 10(2), the Council received a deputation from Mr Mark Cullen, who advised that he agreed with Mr McLeod that increasing the number of licences by thirty would not achieve the desired outcome and therefore that the limit on the number of taxi licences should be removed.  He highlighted the issue of existing taxi drivers not wishing to work at peak times and emphasised that the proposed increase of thirty would not address this issue.

Members asked a number of questions of the deputation.

(D)       With reference to article 12 of the minute of the meeting of 17 September 2013, the Committee (1) received a presentation from Ian Millership, CTS Traffic and Transportation Ltd, in relation to the results of the taxi demand survey and (2) had before it a report by the acting Director of Corporate Governance which presented the results of the taxi demand survey undertaken by CTS Traffic and Transportation Ltd.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       note the results of the Survey and agree to an additional thirty taxi licences bringing the maximum number of taxi licences to 1079 (“Option 2”);

(b)       instruct authorised officers of Legal and Democratic Services to process applications on the waiting list for taxi licences in accordance with the procedure as set out in this report; and

(c)        instruct authorised officers of Legal and Democratic Services to consult with officers from Communities and Housing to establish information sharing procedures as part of the monitoring process referred to in recommendation (a) and report back to the Committee on progress within two cycles.

Councillor Boulton, seconded  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Prior to consideration of the following item, the Convener and Councillor Graham declared interests as members of Unite.  Neither of the members felt it necessary to leave the meeting during the Council’s deliberations.

With reference to article 6 of the minute of the meeting of 1 July 2014, the Committee had before it a report by the acting Director of Corporate Governance which advised of the outcome of further consultation on legal and policy proposals in respect of CCTV in taxis and private hire cars, and sought ratification of the proposed conditions of licence and approval of the updated policy.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       ratify the proposed conditions of licence as detailed in appendix 1;

(b)       approve the updated policy as detailed in appendix 2;

(c)        delegate powers to authorised officers to maintain an approved list of CCTV systems and suppliers; and

(d)       instruct officers to implement the above decisions and monitor their ongoing implementation at regular intervals.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)         to approve the recommendations;

(ii)        instruct officers to develop a standard CCTV sign which should be displayed in taxis; and

(iii)       to thank Mr Paul Connelly for his efforts in drafting the policy.

The Committee had before it 3 requests for film classification for screening at Belmont Cinema as follows:-

(1)       Class Enemy - Suggested rating (15)

(2)       Girlhood - Suggested rating (15)

(3)       Inside Hana’s Suitcase- Suggested rating (Exemption Education – 10+)

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the film classification certificates as listed above.

The Committee had before it a statement of Committee Business from the Head of Legal and Democratic Services.

The Committee resolved:-

to note that a report on item 1 (Taxi Licence Limit Surveys Update) was considered earlier on today’s agenda.

EXEMPT INFORMATION

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DATA PROTECTION ACT 1988 (PRINCIPLE 1), THE PRESS AND PUBLIC WERE EXCLUDED FROM THE MEETING DURING CONSIDERATION OF THE FOLLOWING ITEM.

The Committee had before it, for its consideration, the applications listed in Appendix B to this minute.

The Committee resolved:-

that all applications be determined on the basis shown in Appendix B and that all licences are subject to the Council’s standard conditions unless otherwise stated.

- COUNCILLOR SCOTT CARLE, CONVENER

APPENDIX A

1.            APPLICATION FOR THE RENEWAL OF A LICENCE FOR A HOUSE IN MULTIPLE OCCUPATION

Application Reference Number - 4/01

Premises - Flat 13, 22 Bridge Street

The Committee resolved:-

to note that the application had been granted under delegated powers.

2.            APPLICATION FOR THE RENEWAL OF A LICENCE FOR A HOUSE IN MULTIPLE OCCUPATION

Application Reference Number - 4/02

Premises - 176c Clifton Road

The Committee resolved:-

to note that the application had been granted under delegated powers.

3.            APPLICATION FOR THE GRANT OF A LICENCE FOR A HOUSE IN MULTIPLE OCCUPATION

Application Reference Number - 4/03

Premises - 37 Orchard Street

The Committee resolved:-

to note that the application had been granted under delegated powers.

4.            APPLICATION FOR THE GRANT OF A LICENCE FOR A HOUSE IN MULTIPLE OCCUPATION

Application Reference Number - 4/04

Premises - 61 Leslie Road

With reference to article 1 of the minute of the meeting of 30 October 2014, the Committee had before it (1) a report by Mr Ally Thain, Private Sector Housing Manager, which advised that following the Committee’s previous decision to defer consideration of the application until a site visit had been carried out, the applicant had amended the original licence application from a 5 bedroom to a 4 bedroom HMO; (2) a letter of representation; (3) and a letter of response from the applicant.

Mr Thain advised that upgrading works on the premises had still to be completed, although this was not the reason why the application was before the Committee today.

The Committee heard from the respondent’s representative, Ms Hunt, in support of the letter of representation.

The Committee heard from the applicant in support of the application.

Councillor Townson, seconded by Councillor Blackman moved:-

that the application be granted under delegated powers for the full three year period, subject to the standard conditions being implemented, plus the additional conditions that (1) good quality carpet/vinyl (as appropriate) and good quality underlay was installed on all floors and the stairs of 61 Leslie Road, and (2) that the ground floor utility room was for non residential / less intrusive usage only.

Councillor Malone, seconded by Councillor Boulton moved as an amendment:-

that the application be granted under delegated powers for the full three year period for a maximum occupancy of four persons, subject to the standard conditions being implemented, plus the additional conditions that (1) good quality carpet/vinyl (as appropriate) and good quality underlay was installed on all floors and the stairs of 61 Leslie Road, and (2) that the ground floor utility room was to be used for storage only.

On a division, there voted:-  for the motion (9) – the Convener  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.