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=2927&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 were advised that two requests for deputation had been received from Graeme McColl on behalf of Aberdeen Taxi Group in relation to items 3.1 (CCTV – Taxis and Private Hire Cars) and 3.2 (Licence Application Fees – April 2014 to March 2015) on the agenda.

 

The Committee resolved:-

to hear the deputations prior to consideration of the reports.

The Committee had before it the minute of its previous meeting of 28 January, 2014.

 

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the minute.

The Committee had before it details of the business dealt with by the Informal Business Panel since 28 January, 2014.

 

The Committee resolved:-

to note the informal business.

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.

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 Aberdeen Taxi Group.

 

Mr McColl advised that there was a need to undertake proper consultation with the taxi trade in relation to CCTV in taxis and private hire cars.  He made reference to the Council’s proposed enforcement powers which in his view, would require training for the officer concerned to ensure that the appropriate type of CCTV was installed.  He also indicated that guidance for the taxi trade would need to be prepared by the Council and that the trade would have to be very careful of a ‘big brother’ situation occurring.  He concluded by advising that he was in support of taxi drivers being able to prove what happened in a particular situation, but explained that he was wary of the potential hazards within the proposal.

 

In response Paul Connolly, Solicitor, Litigation and Licensing advised that it was proposed that full consultation with all licence holders on the issue of CCTV in taxis and private hire cars would be undertaken prior to a further report being submitted to the Committee for consideration.

 

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Corporate Governance on the recent developments towards CCTV in relation to taxis and private hire cars and proposed an appropriate legal and policy response.

 

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       notes the draft policy on CCTV in taxis and private hire cars;

(b)       instructs officers to write to the Information Commissioner’s Office – Scotland (Data Protection), the Equality and Human Right Commission – Scotland (Human Rights) and Police Scotland, Aberdeen City Division (Crime Prevention/Detection) to seek their views on the draft policy and thereafter to report back; and

(c)       agrees in principle to the proposed new CCTV licence conditions for taxi and private hire car licences.

 

The Committee resolved:-

(i)        to approve the recommendations;

(ii)       in relation to recommendation (b) above, to include that full consultation with affected licence holders would also be undertaken; and

(iii)      to ensure that officers also consider the use of rear facing cameras in taxis and private hire cars and include details of this within the report.

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 Aberdeen Taxi Group.

 

Mr McColl advised that the taxi trade could see the benefit to every driver if the proposed reduction of fees were to be approved, however he indicated that if the fees were to be increased in a few years to take into account any future commissioning of surveys, for example the forthcoming Taxi Demand Survey, then this would give a false reduction.  He indicated that if the 2014 budget included costs for a Taxi Demand Survey, then he suggested that the fees for 2014 should remain at the current level.  He explained that the surplus could be used to look at increasing enforcement issues, with the possibility of employing another Enforcement Officer which would benefit the trade to make it a more harmonious work place for both taxi driver and the Council.  He concluded by advising that the taxi trade was always looking at ways to improve the trade for the drivers, operators, Council and the public who use the transport service.

 

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Corporate Governance, which outlined the proposed level of application fees for licences administered through the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 and other miscellaneous statutes and to obtain the Committee’s approval for the fees to come into affect on 1 April 2014.

 

The report recommended:-

(a)       that the Committee approves the fees set out in appendices 1 and 2B of the report; and;

(b)       that all other existing fees were to remain at their current level.

 

The Committee resolved:-

(i)         to approve the fees set out in appendix 1; and

(ii)        to accept Aberdeen Taxi Group’s request that all other fees remain at their current level and that further consideration be given to the use of any surplus in the budget.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Corporate Governance, which outlined the standard conditions for Boat Hire Licences (Small Crafts) which may be granted by the Council.

 

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       approves the standard conditions for Boat Hire Licences (Small Crafts) (see appendix 1 of the report);

(b)       notes that officers will publish the standard conditions online on the Committee’s website as part of the application form for boat hire licences; and

(c)        delegates power to officers to grant boat hire licences except where an objection to the application is lodged or adverse observations on the application are submitted by an official of a local or central government department or agency, or the application involves special circumstances or unusual features in accordance with the Committee’s existing scheme of delegation.

 

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

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

 

The Committee resolved:-

to note the updates contained within the statement.

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

- COUNCILLOR FRASER FORSYTH, Convener

APPENDIX A

 

 

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

Application Reference Number – 2/001

Premises – 147 Bannermill Place

 

The Committee had before it a letter of representation.

 

Mr Ally Thain, Private Sector Housing Manager, advised that upgrading works on the premises had been completed, however the safety work instructed by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service had not been completed, although this was not the reason it was before the Committee today.

 

The Committee heard from the respondent.

 

The Committee then heard from the applicant, Ursula George, in support of the application.

 

Councillor Townson, seconded by Councillor Kiddie moved:-

that the application be granted.

 

Councillor Delaney, seconded by Councillor Corall moved as an amendment:-

that the application be granted for a period of 12 months, during which time the premises be monitored in terms of any anti social behaviour incidences.

 

On a division, there voted:- for the motion (8) – the Convener and Councillors Cormie, Graham, Kiddie, MacGregor, Malik, Townson and Young; for the amendment (2) – Councillors Corall and Delaney.

 

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the motion to grant the application under delegated powers, subject to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service being satisfied with fire safety issues within the property.

 

 

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

Application Reference Number – 2/002

Premises – 9 University Road

 

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

 

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

Application Reference Number – 2/003

Premises – First Floor Flat, 559 George Street

 

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

 

 

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

Application Reference Number – 2/004

Premises – 2 Inchbrae Road

 

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

 

 

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

Application Reference Number – 2/005

Premises – 52 Albury Place

 

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

 

 

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

Application Reference Number – 2/006

Premises – 21 Mearns Street

 

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

 

 

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

Application Reference Number – 2/007

Premises – 22 Hilton Place

 

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

 

 

 

8.         APPLICATION FOR THE GRANT OF A PUBLIC  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.