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 proposed that the Committee consider item 10.1 (Street Trader Licence – Grant) 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 item so as to avoid disclosure of information of the classes described in the following paragraph of Schedule 7(A) to the Act:- article 12 (paragraph 14).

Members were requested to intimate any declarations of interest or transparency statements in respect of the items on today’s agenda, thereafter the following was intimated:-

(1)      Councillor Graham declared an interest in item 11.5 (Request for Exemption from Policy - Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle), by virtue of him knowing the individual on a personal basis. He considered that the nature of his interest would require him to leave the meeting prior to consideration of the item.

The Committee had before it the minute of its previous meeting of 27 August 2025, for approval.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the minute.

The Committee had before it the minute of meeting of the Taxi and Private Hire Car Consultation Group of 24 September 2025.

The Committee resolved:-

to 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.

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 Janssen advised that the necessary upgrading works had been completed.

The Committee heard from the applicants Bogdan Buczynski and Karolina Borowiecka, who spoke in support of their application and responded to questions from members.

Matthew Russell and Kirstin Taylor were in attendance and spoke in support of their letter of objection and responded to questions from members.

All parties were given the opportunity to sum up.

The Convener, seconded by Councillor Henrickson, moved:-

that the Committee refuse the licence on the following grounds:-

Where the licence applied for related to an activity consisting of or including the use of premises, those premises were not suitable or convenient for the conduct of the activity having regard to –

(i)     the nature and extent of the proposed activity; and

(ii)    the possibility of undue public nuisance.

Councillor Copland, seconded by Councillor Graham, moved as an amendment:-

          that the Committee grant the licence.

On a division, there voted:- for the motion (5) – the Convener and Councillors Henrickson, Lawrence, MacGregor and McLeod; for the amendment (4) – Councillors Copland, Clark, Crockett and Graham.

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the motion.

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 Junaid Syed was in attendance, spoke in support of the application and responded to questions from members.

Paton Dunlop 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 were advised that this item had been withdrawn.

The Committee had before it an information note prepared by the Chief Officer – Governance which advised that the Belmont Cinema were requesting permission to show a film (Nice Ladies) that has not been awarded a certificate by the British Board of Film Classification at Citymoves Dance Agency, Shoe Lane, Aberdeen, AB10 1AL.

The applicant, Matthew Buchanan was in attendance and spoke in support of the request and responded to questions from members.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to grant permission to show the film that had not been awarded a certificate by the BBFC at Citymoves Dance Agency, Shoe Lane, Aberdeen on 11 October at 7pm; and

(ii)      to agree that the age limit for the intended audience be classified as 12A.

The Committee were advised by the applicant at the meeting that he wished to withdraw his request for exemption.

The Committee had before it an information note prepared by the Interim Chief Officer – Governance, which advised that the applicant was seeking an exemption from undertaking the Street Knowledge Test.

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

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the request for exemption from the Street Knowledge Test.

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

The Committee had before it (1) an information note by the Chief Officer - Governance; and (2) a letter from the Chief Superintendent, Police Scotland, c/o North East Division, dated 30 April 2025.

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

PC Stephanie Strange was in attendance and spoke in support of Police Scotland’s letter of objection.

Both parties were given the opportunity to sum up.

The Committee resolved:-

to refuse the licence on the following grounds:-

(i)       that the applicant was not a fit and proper person to hold the licence; and

(ii)      where the licence applied for related to an activity consisting of or including the use of the vessel, that vessel was not suitable or convenient for the conduct of the activity having regard to public order or public safety.

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 (1) an information note prepared by the Chief Officer – Governance, which advised that the licence holder was seeking an exemption from the Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle policy; and (2) correspondence relating to the exemption request.

The licence holder was not in attendance, nor represented.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to refuse the request for exemption from the Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Policy; and

(ii)      to approve a Wheelchair Assistance exemption.

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 Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle policy; and (2) correspondence relating to the exemption request.

The licence holder was not in attendance, nor represented.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to refuse the request for exemption from the Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Policy; and

(ii)      to approve a Wheelchair Assistance exemption.

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 Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle policy; and (2) correspondence relating to the exemption request.

The licence holder was in attendance, spoke in support of his request and responded to questions from members.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to refuse the request for exemption from the Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Policy; and

(ii)      to approve a Wheelchair Assistance exemption.

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 Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle policy; and (2) correspondence relating to the exemption request.

The licence holder was not in attendance, nor represented.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to refuse the request for exemption from the Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Policy; and

(ii)      to approve a Wheelchair Assistance exemption.

At this juncture, in accordance with Article 2 of this minute, Councillor Graham left the meeting prior to consideration of the following item of business.

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 Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle policy; and (2) correspondence relating to the exemption request.

The licence holder was in attendance, spoke in support of his request and responded to questions from members.

The Committee resolved:-

to grant the request for exemption from the Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Policy.

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 Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle policy; and (2) correspondence relating to the exemption request.

The licence holder was in attendance, spoke in support of his request and responded to questions from members.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to refuse the request for exemption from the Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Policy; and

(ii)      to approve a Wheelchair Assistance exemption.

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 Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle policy; and (2) correspondence relating to the exemption request.

The licence holder was not in attendance, nor represented.

The Committee resolved:-

to grant the request for exemption from the Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Policy.

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 Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle policy; and (2) correspondence relating to the exemption request.

The licence holder was not in attendance, nor represented.

The Committee resolved:-

to defer consideration of the item until the next meeting of the Committee.

-         COUNCILLOR GILL AL-SAMARAI, Convener