Agenda and minutes

Planning, Protective Services and Licensing Committee - Wednesday, 17 August 2022 2:30 pm

Venue: on a Hybrid basis by attendance in the Council Chamber, Kilmory, Lochgilphead or remotely by Microsoft Teams

Contact: Fiona McCallum Tel. No. 01546 604392 

Items
No. Item

1.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Minutes:

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

2.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

3.

CIVIC GOVERNMENT (SCOTLAND) ACT 1982: APPLICANT FOR GRANT OF A TAXI CAR LICENCE (J YOUNG, DUNBEG, OBAN)

Report by Head of Legal and Regulatory Support

Minutes:

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

 

Mr Young spoke to the application and outlined his plans to relocate to the Oban area and secure employment while there. 

 

MEMBERS’ QUESTIONS

 

Councillor Hardie asked the Solicitor if she could confirm the number of Taxi Car Licences in the Oban area since the LSVA survey had taken place.  Ms Macdonald confirmed that at the time of the survey there had been 42 Taxi Car Licences in the Oban, Lorn and the Isles area.  She advised that there were currently 38.  She further advised that 3 had lapsed, 1 had been granted and 2 had been surrendered since 2019.  

 

 

SUMMING UP

 

 

Applicant

 

Mr Young advised that through his brother, who owned a Taxi firm in the Oban area, he was aware that there was enough business for another Taxi Car Licence.  He advised that he did not consider that he was starting a new business, but simply assisting his brother provide a service to the Oban, Lorn and the Isles area.

 

Mr Young confirmed that he had received a fair hearing.

 

DEBATE

 

Councillor Armour advised that as there were currently less taxis than there were in 2019 he did not consider there to be any issues and as such had no hesitation in supporting the application. 

 

Both Councillors Green and McCabe agreed with Councillor Armour’s comments. 

 

DECISION

 

The Committee unanimously agreed to grant a Taxi Car Licence to Mr Young 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)