Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were intimated from Councillors Mary-Jean Devon, Roderick McCuish and Sandy Taylor.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and introductions were made.  Thereafter he outlined the procedure that would be followed and invited the Police to speak in support of the Chief Constable’s representation.

Police Scotland

Sergeant Quinn referred to the contents of a letter from the Chief Constable and advised that the Chief Constable had requested that this Taxi Driver licence be suspended as he considered the Licence Holder to be no longer a fit and proper person to be the holder of the Licence due to the nature of an incident which took place in July 2014.  He advised that the Licence Holder was subsequently charged and appeared before Dunoon Sheriff Court in January 2015, the disposal being a fine and a disqualification from driving for a period of 1 year, and that he had his driver’s licence endorsed.

Licence Holder

Mr Morrison advised that he severely regretted what had happened and stated that he understood that his Taxi Driver Licence would probably be suspended.  He advised that he hoped the Committee would consider granting him a licence again in the future.

As the Members had no questions the Chair invited both parties to sum up.

Summing Up

Police

Sergeant Quinn advised that he had nothing further to add.

Licence Holder

Mr Morrison stated that he had made a terrible mistake and had no intention of doing so again.

Debate

Councillor Colville advised that he accepted that Mr Morrison may be a fit and proper person to hold a licence in the future but that this was not the case at this time and that he supported the Police in their request to suspend the Taxi Driver Licence.

Councillor Currie advised that even he could not defend the Licence Holder in this case.

Councillor Freeman asked how long the suspension would last.  Mr Reppke replied that under normal circumstances the duration of the suspension was for the unexpired portion of the Licence however the Committee could agree to a shorter suspension if they wished.

Decision

The Committee agreed to suspend Mr Morrison’s Taxi Driver’s Licence with immediate effect as he was no longer a fit and proper person to be the holder of the Licence and that the period of suspension be the unexpired portion of the duration of the Licence.

(Reference: Report by Head of Governance and Law, submitted)