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=1935&Ver=4

 

In accordance with Standing Order 10(1), the Convener advised that a request for deputation had been received from (1) Mr Graeme McColl on behalf of the Aberdeen Taxi Group regarding the reports relating to the Taxi Demand Survey, Taxi Fare Review and Review of the Night Time Ranks and Closed Ranks Condition (as detailed at Articles 3, 4 and 7 of this minute); and (2) Mr Tommy Campbell on behalf of the Unite Union regarding the reports relating to the Taxi Demand Survey and Review of the Night Time Ranks and Closed Ranks Condition (as detailed at Articles 3 and 7 of this minute).

 

The Committee resolved:-

to accept and hear the deputations prior to considering the relevant reports.

The Committee had before it the minute of meeting of the Taxi Consultation Group of 24^th October, 2011.

 

The Committee resolved:-

to note the minute.

The Full Survey can be viewed on the Website – Link below

With reference to Article 16 of the minute of the previous meeting of 14^th September 2011, the Committee received a PowerPoint presentation from James Cooper, Edinburgh Napier University in relation to the results of the Taxi Demand Survey.

 

As agreed at the start of the meeting (Article 1 of this minute refers), the Committee received a deputation from Steve Robertson and Tom Wilson on behalf of the Unite Union and Graeme McColl on behalf of the Aberdeen Taxi Group (ATG).

 

The Committee heard from Steve Robertson and Tom Wilson (Unite Union) on the increase in the number of taxis in the city, the costs of maintaining a taxi including fuel and car insurance increases and the current situation with the taxi ranks.  Mr Wilson suggested that the Committee consider a cap on the number of taxi licences.

 

The Committee then heard from Graeme McColl (ATG) who sought approval from the Committee to defer consideration of the report until the next meeting due to the size of the survey document which was too large to digest in the short time since it was made public.

 

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Corporate Governance, which provided the Committee with a Taxi Demand Survey produced by Transport Research Institute, Taxi Studies Group, Edinburgh Napier University.

 

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       note the results of the Survey and only consider imposing a limit on the number of taxi licences as part of a package of measures as recommended in the Survey;

(b)       instruct officers to consult with Transportation Strategy & Programmes officers, Community Safety officers and Grampian Police for their respective interests on the rank specific recommendations in the Survey and report back to Committee; and

(c)        instruct officers, when the report at 2(b) is available, to report back to Committee on the desirability and consequences of imposing a limit on the number of  taxi licences as part of a package of measures to enhance the supply of taxis in Aberdeen.

 

The Committee resolved:-

(i)         to approve the recommendations contained within the report as outlined above;

(ii)        to instruct officers, when the report at 2(b) is available, to report back to Committee on the desirability and consequences of changing the policy for wheelchair accessible vehicles;

(iii)       to instruct officers to request Unight Aberdeen’s views on the proposal that their members operate a scheme to arrange taxi transport for their patrons; and

(iv)       to instruct officers to consult the taxi trade on the four unused taxi ranks identified in the survey.

MATTER OF URGENCY

 

The Convener intimated that she had directed in terms of Section 50(B)(4)(b) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 that the Committee consider the following item of business as a matter of urgency in order that the Committee could make a decision on this issue at the earliest opportunity.

 

As agreed at the start of the meeting (Article 1 of this minute refers), the Committee received a deputation from Graeme McColl on behalf of the Aberdeen Taxi Group (ATG).

 

Mr McColl suggested that it would be beneficial to have the public holidays for 2013 included in the proposed tariff card, and also that the proposed new signage for multi seater taxis be included.

 

The Committee were advised that in relation to the public holiday dates referred to above, there was an error in appendix A to the report relating to the tariff, specifically that the dates at (5) should read 2012 and 2013.

 

With reference to Article 13 of the minute of the previous meeting of 14^th September 2011, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Corporate Governance which provided information on the proposed tariff.

 

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       considers any written responses received as a result of advertising the proposals for amendment to the tariff;

(b)       instructs the Head of Legal and Democratic Services to complete the necessary statutory procedures to implement the new fare structure; and

(c)        agrees that, if no appeal is lodged with the Traffic Commissioner, the tariff will take effect on 19 December 2011.

 

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations contained within the report as outlined above.

With reference to Article 13 of the minute of meeting of 1^st June 2011, and following its instructions from that meeting, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Corporate Governance on the variation of the zoning condition on airport zoned taxi licences.

 

Appended to the report was data showing the number of hires by airport drivers at each of the night time ranks and the waiting times at those ranks over five weekends in September/October 2011 and over two weekends in April 2011.

 

The report recommended:-

that the Committee vary condition 2 of The Conditions Applicable to Taxi Licences (Airport Zone) in the following terms:

 

“This licence is valid within Aberdeen Airport only (except between the hours of 00:00 on Saturday night and 05:00 on Sunday morning, during which time it is valid throughout the licensed area).”

 

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendation contained within the report as outlined above.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Corporate Governance which provided details in relation to a recommendation from the Taxi Consultation Group (TCG) regarding a multi purpose taxi vehicle surcharge.

 

The report advised that the TCG recommended a suitable permanent display inside the taxi with the appropriate City Council logo and that it be inserted in all multi seater taxis by the Council.  It was hoped that the new signage would help prevent taxi drivers operating a multi seater vehicle overcharging by applying a surcharge when carrying four or less passengers.  Drivers of multi seater vehicles are permitted to charge 50% extra only when carrying five or more passengers.

 

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       note the TCG recommendation; and

(b)       instruct officers to carry out further work and report back to a future meeting on the various factors to be considered.

 

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations contained within the report as outlined above.

 

 

 

As agreed at the start of the meeting (Article 1 of this minute refers), the Committee received a deputation from Steve Robertson and Tom Wilson on behalf of the Unite Union and Graeme McColl on behalf of the Aberdeen Taxi Group.

 

Mr Robertson indicated that the Unite Union was supportive of the taxi trade survey recommendations, specifically in relation to the proposed location of a fifth night time taxi rank on Union Street.  However, he raised concerns regarding the current overspill of the taxi ranks on Sunday to Thursday nights and suggested that the Back Wynd be used as a feeder rank on to Union Street on those nights.  He also sought clarification of the signage on Bridge Street which displayed conflicting information regarding parking restrictions in terms of the night time ranks.

 

Mr McColl advised that there has been a decrease in the number of taxi rank spaces due to the introduction of the night time ranks during the week and requested a review of all taxi ranks. 

 

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Corporate Governance which provided details in relation to a recommendation from the Taxi Consultation Group (TCG) on the operation of night time ranks and closed ranks.

 

The report advised that the TCG recommended that consideration be given to the re-opening of the side street ranks at all times during Sunday to Thursday.

 

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       note the TCG recommendation; and

(b)       instruct officers to review the operation of the night time ranks and closed ranks in light of the information and recommendations in the Taxi Demand Survey and report back to Committee with further information and recommendations.

 

The Committee resolved:-

(i)         to approve the recommendations contained within the report and outlined above; and

(ii)        to note that officers would investigate amending the signage on Bridge Street regarding parking restrictions relating to the night time ranks and report back to Committee.

 

 

 

Members were requested to resolve that any exempt business on the agenda be considered with the press and public excluded.

 

The Committee resolved:-

(i)         in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, to exclude the press and public from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business:- 9.1 and 9.10 to 9.14 so as to avoid disclosure of exempt information of the class described in paragraph 14 of Schedule 7(A) to the Act (article 21 of this minute refers); and

(ii)        in terms of the Data Protection Act 1998 (Principle 1) to exclude the press and public from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business:-  8.1 to 8.5 (articles 16 to 20 of this minute refers) and 9.2 to 9.9 (Items 2 and 9 of Appendix B to this minute refers).

The Committee had before it the minute of its previous meeting of 14^th September, 2011.

 

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the minute.

The Committee had before it the minute of meeting of the Sports Ground Advisory Working Group of 22^nd September, 2011.

 

The Committee resolved:-

to note the minute.

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

 

The Committee resolved:-

to delete item 2 (Variation of Condition on Airport Zoned Taxi Licences), and item 3 (Taxi Fare Review) from the statement.

The Committee had before it a statement of the business dealt with informally since 14^th September, 2011.

 

The Committee resolved:-

to note the informal business.

Motion by Councillor Boulton

“That a decision is taken on how much Communities and Charity Groups will be charged for Public Entertainment Licences in order to enable these groups to forward plan and ultimately decide whether they can afford to carry out their events, which are often for fund raising purposes”

 

A background report by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services is attached

The Committee had before it the following motion which had been submitted by Councillor Boulton in terms of Standing Order 12(1):-

“That a decision is taken on how much Communities and Charity Groups will be charged for Public Entertainment Licences in order to enable these groups to forward plan and ultimately decide whether they can afford to carry out their events, which are often for fund raising purposes.”

 

The Committee heard Councillor Boulton speak in support of her motion.  She made reference to the costs associated with Public Entertainment licences in Glasgow and Highland Councils, the implications for charity and community groups if the present application fee was implemented for events/ galas and sought the Committee’s approval to agree to apply an administration/ processing fee only for community and charity groups.

 

The Committee had before it for information, a background paper by the Director of Corporate Governance.

 

The Committee resolved:-

(i)         to agree in principle to a fee reduction (administration/processing fee only) for charities and community groups;

(ii)        to instruct officers to report back to Committee on how a fee reduction could work; and

(iii)       that a special meeting of the Committee be arranged in January 2012 to consider the report referred to at (ii) above.

The Committee had before it for 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 be subject to the Council’s normal conditions unless otherwise stated.

The Committee had before it for consideration, correspondence from Mr Terry Robertson dated 12^th October 2011 which requested approval to form a saloon car partnership with his brother Mr Stanley Robertson.

 

The Committee then heard from Mr Terry Robertson supporting the request.

 

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the request.

EXEMPT INFORMATION

 

In accordance with the decision recorded under Article 8 of this minute, the following items were considered with the press and public excluded.

 

The Committee had before it for consideration, a request from Mr Henry Petrie to substitute a saloon car onto his Taxi Licence.

 

Mr Petrie was not present at the meeting.

 

The Committee resolved:-

to defer consideration of the request until the next meeting of the Committee, at which Mr Henry Petrie would be invited to attend.

 

The Committee had before it for consideration, a request from Mr Stanley Ross dated 10^th October 2011 to waive the requirement to provide a wheelchair accessible vehicle when applying for a taxi licence.

 

The Committee then heard Mr Ross in support of his request in respect of which he had also provided a letter from his doctor.

 

The Convener, seconded by Councillor Noble moved:-

“that the request be refused on the grounds that the Committee should work within current Council Policy guidelines in terms of providing wheelchair accessible taxi vehicles”

 

Councillor Allan, seconded by Councillor Milne moved as an amendment:-

“that the request be approved”

 

On a division, there voted:-  for the motion (4) – the Convener, and Councillors MacGregor, Noble and Robertson; for the amendment (8) – Councillors Allan, Milne, Crockett, Cormack, Cormie, Fletcher, Leslie and Townson.

 

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the amendment and approve the request.

The Committee had before it for consideration, a request from Mr Stephen Insch dated 21^st September 2011 to waive the requirement to provide a wheelchair accessible vehicle if granted a taxi licence.

 

The Committee then heard from Mr Ross in support of his request.

 

The Committee resolved:-

to defer consideration of the request until the results of a medical assessment, are known and thereafter to delegate consideration of the request to the Informal Business Panel.

The Committee had before it for consideration, a request from Mr John Leaper to waive the requirement to provide a wheelchair accessible vehicle if granted a taxi licence.

 

Mr Leaper also provided medical letters dated 25^th October 2000, 15^th June 2011 and 13^th November 2011 in support of his request.

 

The Committee then heard from Mr Tommy Campbell, Unite Union representing Mr Leaper and from Mr Leaper himself in support of the request.

 

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the request.

The Committee had before it for consideration, a request from Mr Leslie Watson dated 17^th October 2011 to substitute a saloon car onto his Taxi Licence together with a supporting letter from his Doctor.

 

The Committee then heard from Mr Watson in support of his request.

 

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the request.

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 be subject to the Council’s normal conditions unless otherwise stated.

- COUNCILLOR KIRSTY WEST, Convener.

APPENDIX A

 

 

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

Application Ref No.  6/001

Premises – 34 Erskine Street, Aberdeen

           

The Committee were advised that the application had been granted under delegated powers.

 

 

2.         APPLICATION FOR THE GRANT OF A HOUSE IN MULTIPLE OCCUPATION

Application Ref No.  6/002

Premises – 52 Bedford Place, Aberdeen

           

Reference was made to item 22 of appendix A to the minute of the previous meeting of 14^th September 2011.

 

The Committee was addressed by Mr Ally Thain in support of his updated report on the premises.

 

The Committee had before it a letter dated 2 November 2011 from the applicant in support of her application.

 

The Committee heard from Mr David Thomson, representing the applicant in support of the application.

 

The Committee resolved:-

to refuse the application.

 

 

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

Application Ref No.  6/003

Premises – 17 Ivory Court, Aberdeen

           

The Committee were advised that the application had been granted under delegated powers.

 

 

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

Application Ref No.  6/004

Premises – 23 Huntly Street, Aberdeen

           

The Committee were advised that the works on the premises and the certification requirements had not been met.

 

            The Committee resolved:-

to defer consideration of the application until the works were completed, after which time officers could grant the application under delegated powers if appropriate.

           

 

5.         APPLICATION FOR THE GRANT OF A HOUSE IN MULTIPLE OCCUPATION

Application Ref No.  6/005

Premises – 31 Auchinyell Road, Aberdeen

           

The Committee were advised that the works on the premises had not been completed and the required certificates had not been obtained.

 

            The Committee resolved:-

to defer consideration of the application until the works were completed, after which time officers could grant the application under delegated powers if appropriate.

 

 

6.         APPLICATION FOR THE GRANT OF A HOUSE IN MULTIPLE OCCUPATION

Application Ref No.  6/006

Premises – 7B Powis Place, Aberdeen

           

The Committee had before it a letter of objection and heard from the objector in its support.

 

The Committee then heard from the applicant’s agent Ms Nurriyat Bakare in support of the application.

 

            The Committee resolved:-

to grant the application.

 

 

7.         APPLICATION FOR THE RENEWAL OF A STREET TRADERS (GENERAL) LICENCE

Application Ref No.  6/007

Sites –(1) North Deeside Road, Cults

              (2) Kingswells Community Centre Car Park

              (3) School Road, Peterculter

              (4) Fairview Road, Danestone

Days/Times -Tuesdays 08.00 to 14.00;

                          Thursdays 08.00 to 17.00;

                          Fridays 08.00 to 12.00 and 13.00 to 15.00.

           

The Committee were reminded of the recent changes to its standard conditions applicable  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.