Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were intimated from Councillors Mary-Jean Devon, Fred Hall and Donald MacMillan.

None declared.

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and introductions were made.  He outlined the procedure that would be followed and invited the Applicant to speak in support of his application.

Applicant

Mr Keenan circulated some background statistical information and advised why he thought there was demand in the Oban area for further taxi operators.  He advised that he was in the catering business and was looking for a change in career.  He advised that he was looking for something that would be less stressful and that would earn him a decent living.  He advised that he had worked in the taxi business 12 years ago.  He advised that he was used to working long hours and working late at night and that he had a good knowledge of the local and surrounding area.  He referred to convictions which occurred nearly 14 years ago and indicated that he has not been involved in anything like this since.  He also confirmed that his penalty points have been reduced to 3 and that he currently held a taxi driver licence.

Members’ Questions

Councillor Trail sought and received clarification that Mr Keenan was not currently driving taxis.

Councillor Blair asked Mr Keenan if he had a hands free phone kit installed in his car.  Mr Keenan replied no but would arrange for one to be installed.  He confirmed his penalty points did not relate to using a phone while driving.

Councillor Colville referred to the statistical information that Mr Keenan had provided and asked him to clarify what research Mr Keenan had undertaken in respect of the figures he had produced.  Mr Keenan referred to the Social, Economic and Development survey regarding population statistics.  He advised that he worked in the town himself and that he had talked to others in business who had confirmed an increase in tourism in the area.  He also referred to reports in the press that Oban Airport were looking to do regular flights to Glasgow and that he anticipated more people would be looking to hire taxis.  He advised that there was so much more going on in Oban now.

Debate

Councillor Freeman advised that the Committee had already discussed the nature of Mr Keenan’s convictions when his application was considered recently for a taxi driver licence.  He advised that Members had no issue with these convictions then so could not see why there would be any issue now.  He advised that the only other consideration that needed to be taken account of was the Fraser of Allander Institute survey on unmet demand which had been produced nearly 10 years ago and which he believed was now out of date and could not be relied upon.

Members also noted that there had been no objections received from other taxi operators in respect of this application.

Decision

Agreed to grant a taxi operator’s licence to Mr Keenan.

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