Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

The agenda and reports associated with this minute can be found here.

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 Convener advised that items 11.1 to 11.3 had been placed in the wrong section of the agenda, confirming that they should have been considered as an exempt application as opposed to a confidential application, she therefore proposed that the Committee consider item 10.1 (Taxi Driver Licence - Temporary Grant), 11.1 (Landlord Registration – Renewal); 11.2 (Landlord Registration – New); and 11.3 (Landlord Registration - Revoke) with the press and public excluded from the meeting.

The Committee resolved:-

in terms of Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, to exclude the press and public from the meeting during consideration of the above items so as to avoid disclosure of information of the classes described in the following paragraph of Schedule 7(A) to the Act:- articles 13 to 16 (paragraph 14).

There were no declarations of interest or transparency statements intimated.

The Committee had before it the minute of its previous meeting of 14 May 2025, for approval.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the minute.

The Committee had before it the minutes of meetings of the Licensing Sub Committee of 4 and 25 June 2025, for approval.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve both minutes.

The Committee had before it the minute of meeting of the Taxi and Private Hire Car Consultation Group of 30 April 2025.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to note that the Convener would provide an update to Councillor McLeod on the situation regarding pre-booked taxis and cruise ship passenger collection at Aberdeen South Harbour; and

(ii)      to otherwise note the minute.

The Committee had before it the Committee Business Planner as prepared by the Chief Officer – Governance.

The Committee resolved:-

to note the Business Planner.

With reference to article 5 of the minute of meeting of 9 October 2024, the Committee had before it a report by the Executive Director of Corporate Services which requested consideration of changes to the membership of the Taxi and Private Hire Car Consultation Group.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)      approve the amendments to the membership of the Taxi and Private Hire Car Consultation Group as outlined in section 3.16 of the report; and

(b)      review the membership of the Consultation Group in 12 months’ time.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

TRANSPARENCY STATEMENT

During discussion of the following item, Councillor Yuill advised that he had a connection by virtue of him being a Council nominated member of NHS Grampian Health Board. Having applied the objective test, he did not consider that he had an interest and would not be withdrawing from the meeting.

With reference to article 8 of the minute of the previous meeting of 14 May 2025, the Committee had before it a report by the Executive Director of Corporate Services which provided feedback on the results of the formal consultation carried out in relation to the existing Sexual Entertainment Venue Licensing Policy.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)      consider the results of the public consultation, which closed on Commonplace on 31 July 2025;

(b)      determine the appropriate upper limit for the number of Sexual Entertainment Venues for Aberdeen city centre;

(c)      determine the appropriate upper limit for the number of Sexual Entertainment Venues located outwith Aberdeen city centre (but within the Local Authority area); and

(d)      determine whether the Committee would like to make any appropriate changes to the existing Sexual Entertainment Venue Licensing Policy and standard conditions attached to Sexual Entertainment Venue Licences in light of the consultation responses, and if so, instruct the Chief Officer – Governance to make the appropriate changes and report a further draft of the policy and standard conditions attached to Sexual Entertainment Venue Licences back to Committee for approval in due course.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to agree that the appropriate upper limit for the number of Sexual Entertainment Venues for Aberdeen city centre would be five;

(ii)      to agree that the limit for the number of Sexual Entertainment Venues located outwith Aberdeen city centre (but within the Local Authority area) would be zero; and

(iii)      to agree that no changes were required to the existing Sexual Entertainment Venue Licensing Policy and standard conditions.

The Committee had before it a report by the Private Sector Housing Manager, which advised that the application was before the Committee for the reason that one letter of objection was submitted to the Private Sector Housing Team.

Mrs Jocelyn Janssen, Private Sector Housing Manager advised that the necessary upgrading works had been completed.

The applicant, Scott Forrester was in attendance, spoke in support of the application and responded to questions from members.

Graeme Smith was in attendance, spoke in support of his letter of objection and responded to questions from members.

All parties were given the opportunity to sum up.

The Committee resolved:-

to grant the licence.

The Committee had before it a report by the Private Sector Housing Manager, which advised that the application was before the Committee for the reason that one letter of objection was submitted to the Private Sector Housing Team.

Mrs Jocelyn Janssen, Private Sector Housing Manager advised that the necessary upgrading works had still to be completed.

Alan Cowie, on behalf of the applicant was in attendance, spoke in support of the application and responded to questions from members.

Murray Smith, the objector was not in attendance, nor represented.

The Committee resolved:-

to defer consideration of the application until the necessary upgrading works were completed, after which time the Chief Officer - Housing could grant or refuse the licence under delegated powers, if appropriate.

The Committee had before it a report by the Private Sector Housing Manager, which advised that the application was before the Committee for the reason that five letters of objection was submitted to the Private Sector Housing Team.

Mrs Jocelyn Janssen, Private Sector Housing Manager advised that the necessary upgrading works had been completed.

The applicant, Dean Dickson was in attendance, spoke in support of the application and responded to questions from members.

Mark Walsh, speaking on behalf of Lesley Walsh was in attendance, he advised that he was also representing Eric and Jennifer Henderson and Lorraine Anderson. He spoke in support of the letters of objection, submitted by the aforementioned objectors and responded to questions from members.

All parties were given the opportunity to sum up.

The Committee resolved:-

to grant the licence.

The Committee had before it (1) an information note prepared by the Chief Officer – Governance, which advised that the licence holder was seeking an exemption from the Age of Vehicle Policy; and (2) correspondence relating to the exemption request.

Russell McLeod was in attendance and spoke in support of the request and responded to questions from members.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the request for exemption from the Age of Vehicle Policy.

In accordance with the decision taken at Article 1 of this minute, the following four items were considered with the press and public excluded.

The Committee had before it (1) a report by the Chief Officer - Governance; and (2) a letter from the Chief Superintendent, Police Scotland, c/o North East Division, dated 2 June 2025.

The applicant was in attendance, spoke in support of his application and responded to questions from members.

PC Kevin Skivington was in attendance and spoke in support of Police Scotland’s letter of representation.

Both parties were given the opportunity to sum up.

The Committee resolved:-

to grant the licence.

The Committee had before it (1) a report by the Private Sector Housing Manager; and (2) a letter from the Chief Superintendent, Police Scotland, c/o North East Division, dated 13 November 2024.

PC Kevin Skivington was in attendance and spoke in support of Police Scotland’s letter.

The applicant was not in attendance, nor represented.

The Committee resolved:-

to refuse the registration on the grounds that the applicant was not a fit and proper person.

The Committee had before it (1) a report by the Private Sector Housing Manager; and (2) a letter from the Chief Superintendent, Police Scotland, c/o North East Division, dated 28 February 2025.

PC Kevin Skivington was in attendance and spoke in support of Police Scotland’s letter.

The applicant was not in attendance, nor represented.

The Committee resolved:-

to refuse the registration on the grounds that the applicant was not a fit and proper person.

The Committee had before it (1) a report by the Private Sector Housing Manager; and (2) a letter from the Chief Superintendent, Police Scotland, c/o North East Division, dated 7 July 2025.

PC Kevin Skivington was in attendance and spoke in support of Police Scotland’s letter.

The applicant was not in attendance, nor represented.

The Committee resolved:-

to revoke the registration on the grounds that the applicant was not a fit and proper person.

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

The press and public were excluded from the meeting for consideration of the following item which contained confidential information in terms of Section 50A 3(b) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

The Committee had before it an information note prepared by the Chief Officer – Governance which advised that the licence holder had applied for the renewal of his Taxi Driver Licence and the certificate from the medical adviser indicated that he did not meet DVLA Group 2 standards, therefore his licence was suspended under Schedule 1, Paragraph 12 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982.

The licence holder was in attendance, spoke in defence of the suspension request and responded to questions from members. The licence holder was also represented by Russell McLeod.

The Committee resolved:-

that due to exceptional circumstances, to agree that on this occasion, to depart from policy and take no action under Schedule 1, Paragraph 11 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 and lift the suspension imposed under Schedule 1, Paragraph 12.

-         COUNCILLOR GILL AL-SAMARAI, Convener