Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Audrey Forrest, Willie Hume, Mark Irvine and Paul Kennedy.

There were no declarations of interest.

Report by Head of Legal and Regulatory Support

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.  In line with recent legislation for Civic Government Hearings, the parties (and any representatives) were given the options for participating in the meeting today.  The options available were by video call, by audio call or by written submission.  For this hearing the Applicant opted to proceed by way of audio call and joined the meeting by telephone.

The Chair then outlined the procedure that would be followed and invited the Applicant to speak in support of his application.

APPLICANT

The applicant, Mr McIntyre-Stewart advised that since the LVSA survey had been carried out in 2019, he was aware of 5 taxi car licences that had either been surrendered or were no longer in use.  He advised that at points in the day there were no taxis waiting at the rank, and advised that he was aware that late at night, there were customers, often lone females waiting at the rank for a taxi.  He spoke of the current cost of living crisis and the need to ensure that there was adequate service provision in the outlying villages such as Arrochar.    

MEMBERS’ QUESTIONS

Councillor Graham Hardie enquired as to whether there had been an increase in business following the recent rail disruptions.  Mr McIntyre-Stewart advised that there had been an increase.  He explained that people seem to be able to get to Helensburgh but were experiencing difficulties in getting home at the end of the day, and this had led to a number of taxis being away from the area for long periods of time, leaving a gap at the rank, particularly in the evening. 

The Chair, Councillor Green asked the Solicitor for confirmation of how many Taxi Car Licences had been surrendered since the LSVA survey had been carried out in 2019 and how many had been granted in the Helensburgh area since that time.  Ms Macdonald confirmed that since the survey, 5 Taxi Car Licences had lapsed, 3 had been granted and 2 had been surrendered.  She confirmed that in 2019 there were 48 Taxi Car Licences in total and at present there were 44. 

SUMMING UP

Applicant

Mr McIntyre Stewart confirmed that he had nothing additional to add.  He also confirmed that he had received a fair hearing.

DEBATE

Councillor Green advised that on the basis that there were currently 4 fewer Taxi Car Licences than there were when the LSVA survey had been carried out in 2019, he was supportive of the application. 

Councillor Hardie, noting that he was a Councillor in the Helensburgh area, agreed with Councillor Green’s comments and advised that he would be happy to grant the application. 

Councillor Armour also agreed that given that there were 4 less Taxi Car Licences than in 2019, he too was happy that the application be granted. 

DECISION

The Committee unanimously agreed to grant a Taxi Car Licence to Mr McIntyre-Stewart and noted that he would receive written confirmation of this from Legal Services within 7 days.

(Reference: Report by Head of Legal and Regulatory Support, submitted)