Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Audrey Forrest, Roderick McCuish and Jean Moffat.

There were no declarations of interest.

a)    The Minute of the Planning, Protective Services and Licensing Committee held on 15 December 2021 at 10.30 am was approved as a correct record.

b)    The Minute of the Planning, Protective Services and Licensing Committee held on 15 December 2021 at 2.00 pm was approved as a correct record.

c)    The Minute of the Planning, Protective Services and Licensing Committee held on 15 December 2021 at 2.30 pm was approved as a correct record.

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support

In terms of Section 17 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, the Local Authority requires to fix maximum fares and other charges in connection with the hire of taxis operating in their area and to review the scales for taxi fares and other charges on a regular basis.  The new fare structure requires to come into force by 22 April 2022.  The fares were last reviewed by Members on 17 June 2020 and took effect on 22 October 2020.  

Consideration was given to a report advising the Committee they were now required to carry out a further review of taxi fares and other charges.

Decision

The Committee agreed:

1.    to propose an increase of 15% to the maximum fares for each tariff in respect of the initial charge and subsequent charges and that this take effect from 22 April 2022;

2.    to authorise the Head of Legal and Regulatory Support to advertise this proposal and to invite any responses within one month of the advertisement and report back to Members at their meeting on 23 March 2022; and

3.    should no objections or representations be received in relation to the proposal to delegate to the Head of Legal and Regulatory Support, in consultation with the Chair of the PPSL Committee, to conclude the review without the requirement for the Committee to consider a further report on the review.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support dated December 2021, submitted)

Councillor Donald MacMillan left the meeting during consideration of the foregoing item.

Councillor Jean Moffat joined the meeting at this point.

Report by Head of Development and Economic Growth

The Senior Planning Officer spoke to the terms of the report and to supplementary report number one which advised of additional late objections received following publication of the main of report of handling.  He also drew Members’ attention to a further 3 objections received following publication of the supplementary report from Mr Ewan Summersby, from Garelochhead Community Council and from Councillor Iain Shonny Paterson. 

The site of the proposed development is a housing allocation (H-AL-3/3) within the adopted Argyll and Bute Local Development Plan 2015 (LDP).  A development of 24 houses has previously been approved under applications 04/01028/DET and 07/01323/DET.  The principle of the proposal and the design, layout and materials proposed accord with the policies of the LDP and LDP2.  The application has attracted a considerable number of objections from the local community and the site has been removed as a specific housing allocation in LDP2.  On balance it is considered that a pre determination hearing would assist Members consider the issues which have been raised by Objectors and allow them, if they wish, to present their case.

Decision

The Committee:

1.    Agreed to hold a virtual discretionary hearing; and

2.    instructed Officers to investigate the feasibility of holding an informal site visit with the Committee in advance of the date of this hearing.

(Reference: Report by Head of Development and Economic Growth dated 7 January 2022 and supplementary report number one dated 18 January 2022, submitted)