Agenda, decisions and minutes

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

https://committees.aberdeencity.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=149&MId=5852&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 Convener proposed that the Committee suspend Standing Order 37.2 (Length of Meetings) to enable the meeting to continue beyond four hours.

The Committee resolved:

to agree to suspend Standing Order 37.2 (Length of Meetings).

The Committee was advised that the applications listed at item 7 on the agenda were to be heard in private and treated as confidential information in terms of Section 50(A)(3)(b) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

The Committee resolved:

to note that applications/requests to be heard in private and treated as confidential information in terms of Section 50(A)(3)(b) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 were listed at item 7 on the agenda.

The following declarations of interest were intimated at this time:

(i)        Councillor Cameron declared an interest in relation to item 8.23 (Application for the Grant of a Special Events Private Hire Operator/Driver's Licence - Robert Carmichael) by virtue of press statements, and withdrew from the meeting prior to consideration of this item;

(ii)       Councillor Imrie declared an interest in relation to items 8.7 to 8.10 (all of which were applications for the Renewal/Grant of Street Trader's Licences) by virtue of her intention to apply for a street trader licence in the near future, and withdrew from the meeting prior to consideration of these items;

(iii)      Councillor Sandy Stuart declared an interest in relation to items 7.3 (Application for the Renewal of a Taxi Driver's Licence), 7.5 (Application for the Renewal of a Taxi Driver's Licence) and 7.14 (Application for the Renewal of a Taxi Driver's Licence) by virtue of knowing the applicants, and withdrew from the meeting prior to consideration of each of these items;

(iv)      Councillor McRae declared an interest in relation to item 7.29 (Application for the Grant of a Substitution of a Taxi Operator's Licence) by virtue of knowing the applicant, and withdrew from the meeting prior to consideration of this item; and

(v)        Councillor Sellar declared an interest in relation to item 7.30 (Application for the Grant of a Second Hand Dealer’s Licence) by virtue of knowing the applicant, and withdrew from the meeting prior to consideration of this item.

The Committee had before it the minute of its previous meeting of 19 December 2017.

The Committee resolved:

to approve the minute as a correct record.

The Committee had before it the minutes of the meetings of the Licensing Urgent Business Sub Committee of 13 December 2017 and 9 January 2018.

The Committee resolved:

to approve the minutes as correct records.

The Committee had before it the minute of the meeting of the Licensing Evidential Hearing Sub Committee of 13 December 2017.

The Committee resolved:

to approve the minute as a correct record.

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

The Committee resolved:

(i)         to delete resolutions (ii) and (ii) item 5 (Update on Driver Training and Knowledge Test), subject to the decision taken later on the agenda; and

(ii)        to otherwise note the updates contained in the statement.

The Committee had before it a tracker of future committee business.

The Committee resolved:

to note the information contained in the committee report tracker.

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

The press and public were excluded from the meeting for consideration of the applications listed in section 7 on the agenda and appendix A of the minute which contained confidential information in terms of Section 50A 3(b) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

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 we.re subject to the Council’s standard conditions unless otherwise stated

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 were subject to the Council’s standard conditions unless otherwise stated.

With reference to article 12 of the minute of the meeting of the Licensing Committee of 12 September 2017, the Committee had before it a report by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services.

The report recommended –

that the Committee

(a)       note the responses received to the consultation exercise;

(b)       implement with immediate effect the proposed changes to the procedures for implementing the knowledge test for applicants for taxi and private hire driver’s licences; and

(c)        agree to make no changes to the content of the knowledge test at this time.

The Committee resolved:

(i)         to note the responses received to the consultation exercise;

(ii)        to agree to implement with immediate effect the proposed changes to the procedures for implementing the knowledge test for applicants for taxi and private hire driver’s licences, with a fee of £15 for the knowledge test to be applied;

(iii)       to agree to make no changes to the content of the knowledge test at this time; and

(iv)       to instruct the Licensing Team Leader to report on potential training required for drivers on satellite navigation systems to ensure public safety as part of the future report on driver training which was to be reported to the Committee in August 2018.

- COUNCILLOR JOHN REYNOLDS, Convener

APPENDIX A

1.            LANDLORD REGISTRATION

Application Reference Number - 7/01

With reference to article 2 of Appendix A of the minute of the meeting of the Licensing Committee of 19 December 2017, the Committee had before it a report by the Private Sector Housing Manager in respect of an application for landlord registration which included a letter of representation from the Chief Constable, Police Scotland, c/o Aberdeen City Division dated 8 September 2017.

Sergeant Flett was in attendance and spoke in support of Police Scotland’s letter of representation.

The applicant was not in attendance, however was represented by his father, who was accompanied by his wife. The applicant’s father spoke in support of his son’s application.

The Committee asked questions of the Sergeant Flett and the applicant’s representative.

Neither party took up the opportunity to sum up.

The Committee resolved:

to approve the application.

2.            Application for the Renewal of a Private Hire Driver's Licence

Application Reference Number - 7/02

The Committee had before it (1) an information sheet prepared by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services in respect of the application which advised that the application had to be determined by 26 May 2018; and (2) a letter of representation from the Chief Constable, Police Scotland, c/o Aberdeen City Division dated 1 December 2017.

The applicant was in attendance and spoke in support of his application.

Sergeant Flett was in attendance and spoke in support of Police Scotland’s letter of representation.

The Committee asked questions of the applicant and Sergeant Flett.

Sergeant Flett did not take up the opportunity to sum up.

The applicant summed up.

The Committee resolved:

to approve the application.

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

In accordance with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.