Agenda item

The Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer – Governance which advised of a request from SMG Europe Holdings Limited to establish a new permanent taxi rank at The Events Complex Aberdeen (TECA).

 

The report recommended:-

that the Committee

(a)             consider the request from SMG Europe Holdings Limited for a new permanent taxi rank at TECA as attached at Appendix 1;

(b)             subject to the approval of the request contained at recommendation (a), instruct the Chief Officer Governance to undertake the formal consultation on the proposal for a new permanent taxi rank at TECA, as illustrated in Appendix 2 and 3, in terms of Section 19 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 with

·                Persons or organisations appearing to be representative of taxi         operators in the area, i.e. the Taxi and Private Hire Consultation Group.

·                The Chief Constable, Police Scotland.

·                The Public, by way of notice of the proposal in an advertisement in at least one newspaper circulating in the area giving 28 days for any objections or representations.

·                Aberdeen City Council as the Roads Authority

The outcome of the formal consultation would be reported back to the Licensing Committee at its meeting on 4 June 2019.

 

The Committee resolved:

(i)            to accept the request from SMG Europe Holdings Limited for a new permanent taxi rank at TECA as attached at Appendix 1;

(ii)          to instruct the Chief Officer Governance to undertake the formal consultation on the proposal for a new permanent taxi rank at TECA, as illustrated in Appendix 2 and 3, in terms of Section 19 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 with

·                     Persons or organisations appearing to be representative of taxi         operators in the area, i.e. the Taxi and Private Hire Consultation Group.

·                     The Chief Constable, Police Scotland.

·                     The Public, by way of notice of the proposal in an advertisement in at least one newspaper circulating in the area giving 28 days for any objections or representations.

·                     Aberdeen City Council as the Roads Authority.

(iii)         to note that the outcome of this formal consultation would be reported back to the Licensing Committee at its meeting on 4 June 2019.

 

-       Councillor Reynolds, CONVENER

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

APPENDIX A

 

 

1.            GRANT of a Licence for a House in Multiple Occupation – TOP FLOOR FLAT, 35 KINGS CRESCENT, ABERDEEN

Application Reference 7/01

 

The Committee noted that the licence had been withdrawn.

 

 

2.            GRANT OF A LICENCE FOR A HOUSE IN MULTIPLE OCCUPATION – 9 ST. MARGARET’S PLACE, ABERDEEN

Application Reference 7/02

 

The Committee noted that the licence had been granted under delegated powers.

 

 

3.    APPLICATION FOR A PUBLIC CHARITABLE COLLECTION – SPORT ABERDEEN, QUEENS LINKS, ABERDEEN

Application Reference 7/03

 

The Committee had before it an information sheet prepared by the Chief Officer - Governance in respect of the application which advised that the application had been placed on the agenda as the applicant was seeking to hold a public charitable collection on a Sunday which was outwith the Committee’s guidelines.

 

The applicant, Sport Aberdeen, was not in attendance, nor represented.

 

The Committee resolved:

to agree that the application be exempt from the Public Collection Policy and to instruct the Chief Officer – Governance to process it accordingly.

 

 

4.    APPLICATION FOR THE GRANT OF A TEMPORARY TAXI OPERATOR’S LICENCE - MR ALLAN ROSS

Application Reference 7/04

 

 

The Committee had before it an information sheet prepared by the Chief Officer – Governance in respect of the application which advised that (1) the application had to be determined by 12 August 2019; and (2) the applicant had requested exemption from the following policies: Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle, Age of Vehicle and Type of Vehicle.

 

The applicant, Mr Allan Ross, was in attendance, accompanied by his wife.

 

 

The Committee resolved:

to agree that the application be exempt from the following policies: Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle, Age of Vehicle and Type of Vehicle on the basis of the individual circumstances and to instruct the Chief Officer – Governance to process it accordingly.

 

 

5.    APPLICATION FOR THE GRANT OF A TAXI OPERATOR’S LICENCE - MR ALLAN ROSS

Application Reference 7/05

 

The Committee had before it an information sheet prepared by the Chief Officer – Governance in respect of the application which advised that (1) the application had to be determined by 12 August 2019; and (2) the applicant had requested exemption from the following policies: Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle, Age of Vehicle and Type of Vehicle.

 

The applicant, Mr Allan Ross, was in attendance, accompanied by his wife.

 

The Committee resolved:

to agree that the application be exempt from the following policies: Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle, Age of Vehicle and Type of Vehicle on the basis of the individual circumstances and to instruct the Chief Officer – Governance to process it accordingly.

 

 

6.    APPLICATION FOR THE RENEWAL OF A PRIVATE HIRE DRIVER’S LICENCE - MR STEPHEN SMITH

Application Reference 7/06

 

The Committee noted that the application had been withdrawn.

 

 

7.    APPLICATION FOR THE GRANT OF A TAXI OPERATOR’S LICENCE - MR MICHAEL MCLEOD

Application Reference 7/07

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

APPENDIX B

 

 

1.         application for the GRANT of a SPECIAL EVENTS PRIVATE HIRE CAR DRIVER’S Licence

Application Reference 8/01

 

The Committee had before it (1) an information sheet prepared by the Chief Officer – Governance in respect of the application which advised that the application had to be determined by 5 July 2019; and (2) a letter of objection from the Chief Constable, Police Scotland, c/o Aberdeen City Division dated 8 February 2019.

 

The applicant was not in attendance, nor represented.

 

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

 

The Committee resolved:

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

 

 

2.         application for the GRANT of a SPECIAL EVENTS PRIVATE HIRE CAR OPERATOR’S Licence

Application Reference 8/02

 

The Committee had before it (1) an information sheet prepared by the Chief Officer – Governance in respect of the application which advised that the application had to be determined by 5 July 2019; and (2) a letter of objection from the Chief Constable, Police Scotland, c/o Aberdeen City Division dated 8 February 2019.

 

The applicant was not in attendance, nor represented.

 

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

 

The Committee resolved:

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

3.         REQUEST TO LIFT a Taxi Driver's Licence SUSPENSION

Application Reference 8/03

 

The Committee had before it an information sheet prepared by the Chief Officer – Governance in respect of the request that the licence holder’s suspension be lifted.

 

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

 

The Committee resolved:

to lift the suspension of the licence holder’s taxi driver’s licence on the basis of a material change of circumstances.

 

             

4.         request for exemption from policy

Application Reference 8/04

 

The Committee had before it an information sheet prepared by the Chief Officer – Governance in respect of the request which advised that the applicant was requesting exemption from the Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Policy.

 

The applicant was in attendance, accompanied by his trade union representative who spoke in support of the request.

 

The Committee asked questions of the applicant.

 

The applicant’s representative summed up.

 

The Committee resolved:

to approve the request for exemption of the licence holder’s vehicle under licence T807 from the Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle policy on the basis of the individual circumstances.

 

 

5.         request for exemption from policy

Application Reference 8/05

 

The Committee had before it an information sheet prepared by the Chief Officer – Governance in respect of the request which advised that the applicant was requesting exemption from the Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Policy.

 

The applicant was in attendance, accompanied by her trade union representative who spoke in support of the request.

 

The Committee asked questions of the applicant.

 

The applicant’s representative summed up.

 

The Committee resolved:

to approve the request for exemption of the licence holder’s vehicle from the Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle policy on the basis of the individual circumstances.