LICENSING AND REGISTRATION PANEL

 

TUESDAY 3 MARCH 1998 - 3.00 pm

 

Present:-  Councillors Calvert, Morrison (D), Clocherty, Roach, Nimmo and Rebecchi, Councillor Morrison (D), Convener, in the Chair.

 

In attendance:-  The Director of Central Services and Mr H McNeilly (for the Director of Legal Services).

 

The following paragraphs are submitted for information only, having been dealt with under the powers delegated to the Panel.

 

   206      APPLICATION FOR SECOND-HAND DEALER'S LICENCE:                                                           206

1 DRUMFROCHAR ROAD, GREENOCK

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 17 February 1998 by the Director of Central Services on an application for renewal of a Second-Hand Dealer's Licence by James McDonald to allow him to sell second-hand cars from premises at 1 Drumfrochar Road, Greenock.

DECIDED:  That the application be granted.

 

   207      APPLICATION FOR SECOND-HAND DEALER'S LICENCE:                                                           207

62 LYNEDOCH STREET, GREENOCK

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 17 February 1998 by the Director of Central Services on an application for renewal of a Second-Hand Dealer's Licence by Archibald Orr to allow him to sell second-hand household goods from premises at 62 Lynedoch Street, Greenock.

DECIDED:  That the application be granted.

 

   208      APPLICATION FOR SECOND-HAND DEALER'S LICENCE:                                                           208

INVERCLYDE SALES & SERVICES LTD, 1 KER STREET, GREENOCK

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 17 February 1998 by the Director of Central Services on an application for renewal of a Second-Hand Dealer's Licence by Inverclyde Sales & Services Ltd to allow the sale of second-hand cars, vans and caravans from premises at 1 Ker Street, Greenock.

DECIDED:  That the application be granted.

 

   209      APPLICATION FOR METAL DEALER'S LICENCE:                                                                           209

4 MACKENZIE STREET, GREENOCK

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 17 February 1998 by the Director of Central Services on an application for renewal of a Metal Dealer's Licence by Isobel Burke to allow her to operate as a metal dealer from premises at 4 MacKenzie Street, Greenock.

DECIDED:  That the application be granted.

   210      APPLICATION FOR PERMIT FOR COMMERCIAL PROVISION OF AMUSEMENT                     210

WITH PRIZES MACHINES:  SAN REMO ARCADE, 21-23 WEST STEWART STREET,

GREENOCK

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 17 February 1998 by the Director of Central Services on an application for renewal of a Permit for Commercial Provision of Amusement with Prizes Machines by Terence Shaw (Stockton) Ltd in respect of premises known as San Remo Arcade, 21-23 West Stewart Street, Greenock.

DECIDED:  That the application be granted.

 

   211      REVIEW OF CIVIC GOVERNMENT (SCOTLAND) ACT 1982:  COSLA SURVEY                         211

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 13 February 1998 by the Director of Central Services advising that COSLA in partnership with the Scottish Office is carrying out a review of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 and seeking the Panel's views on proposals for discussion on those parts of the Act which relate to the Panel's remit, ie licensing, control of public processions and administration of public charitable collections.

DECIDED:  That the proposals with the exceptions of proposals 3, 4 and 15 described in the report be submitted to COSLA for discussion.

 

   212      TAXIS AND PRIVATE HIRE VEHICLES:  ADVERTISING IN AND ON VEHICLES                        212

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 13 February 1998 by the Director of Central Services outlining proposed guidelines on an advertising policy for taxis and private hire vehicles.

DECIDED:  That the Council adopt the policy on advertising on taxis and private hire vehicles as follows:-

 

(a)  Advertising on Taxis

 

(i)  The vehicle shall carry a sign capable of being illuminated during the hours from dusk to dawn and wired into the taxi meter so as not to be illuminated while the meter is engaged, with the word "taxi" in black letters on a yellow background being shown to the front and in black letters on a red background being shown to the rear, the width of the sign not to exceed the width of the bodywork of the car, the letters not to exceed three inches in height and the sign itself not to protrude more than twelve inches above the roof of the car;

(ii)  The vehicle shall be permitted to display in its rear window a sign advertising either the operator or the operating company and the appropriate telephone number provided always that such a sign is positioned immediately along the bottom edge of the rear window and is no higher than four inches in height;

(iii)  A round disc shall be permitted to be positioned in the front and rear window of the vehicle, approximating in size to that of a vehicle excise licence disc, to display the vehicle's radio call sign;

(iv)  It shall be permitted for the operator's name and licence number to be displayed in letters not exceeding one inch in height behind the central door pillar of the vehicle and immediately below the side windows;  and

(v)  The vehicle shall be permitted to display commercial advertisement signage on its front passenger doors;  an exact copy of the proposed advertisement shall be submitted for approval of its design and content by the Director of Central Services who shall be entitled to charge a fee to be determined by him in consultation with the Director of Finance and to give or refuse consent subject to any conditions he may consider appropriate;  and

 

(b)  Advertising on Private Hire Vehicles

 

The holder of a private hire car licence shall be required to display a sign issued by the Council identifying the licensed vehicle as licensed for private hire, the sign to be positioned immediately along the bottom edge of the rear window of the licensed vehicle at all times it is being operated as a private hire vehicle in terms of the appropriate licence.

 

   213      SAFETY OF SPORTS GROUNDS ACT 1975:  CAPPIELOW PARK, GREENOCK                          213

GREENOCK MORTON FC

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 19 February 1998 by the Director of Central Services advising of the Council's responsibilities to regulate the use of Cappielow Park, Greenock under the Act and advising of the outcome of the annual inspection carried out on 10 February 1998.

NOTED

 

   214      REVIEW OF TAXI STANCES                                                                                                               214

 

SUBMITTED:  Report by the Director of Central Services advising of the response to the statutory consultation procedure following the proposals on the review of taxi stances.

DECIDED:  That the taxi stances detailed in the lists for designation and revocation respectively in the appendix to the report be so designated and revoked under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 with the following changes:-

1.     Station Road, Port Glasgow - to be designated as a taxi stance between the hours of 7.00 am and 12.45 am.

2.     Regent Street (Wellpark), Greenock - to be designated as a taxi stance for 6 cabs as existing.

and that it be remitted to the Director of Central Services to take all necessary actions in connection therewith.

 

   215      RESOLUTION:  EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS                                                                    215

 

On the motion of the Convener it was agreed unanimously that, in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the public and press be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the undernoted items of business on the grounds that consideration of the items involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 6 of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

 

   216      APPLICATIONS FOR TAXI LICENCES:  MESSRS BOYLE, CANNIE & McKENZIE,                    216

CENTRAL RADIO CARS

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 13 January 1998 by the Director of Central Services on applications for Taxi Licences by Messrs Boyle, Cannie & McKenzie of Central Radio Cars, Greenock who wish to make available to the public vehicles specially adapted for use by the disabled.

DECIDED:  That consideration of these applications be continued for a further report encompassing a review on Council policy for taxi licences in general, the transfer of licences and the provision of vehicles licensed as taxis specially adapted for the disabled, including consultation with trade associations and bodies and relevant fora for the disabled.

 

   217      SUSPENSION OF TAXI DRIVER'S LICENCE:  CHARLES TRAVERS                                              217

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 2 February 1998 by the Director of Legal Services advising that following the suspension of Mr Travers' Taxi Licence by the Panel, he had appealed to the Sheriff against the Panel's decision.  The report advised that the Sheriff had dismissed Mr Travers' appeal and had upheld the decision of the Panel to suspend his licence.

The report also advised that Mr Travers had appealed to the Sheriff against the Panel's decision to refuse the renewal of his Taxi Driver's Licence but no further information was available.

NOTED

 

   218      REQUEST FOR SUSPENSION OF TAXI DRIVER'S LICENCE:  NEIL HART                                   218

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 16 February 1998 by the Director of Central Services requesting the Panel to consider the suspension of the Taxi Driver's Licence held by Neil Hart on the grounds that Mr Hart is not a fit and proper person to hold such a licence by virtue of the conduct and conviction as outlined by the Chief Constable, Strathclyde Police in Appendix 1 to the report.  The Panel heard Superintendent Fleming and Mr Hart and his sister.

Following discussion, Councillor Nimmo moved that the application be suspended immediately.  As an amendment, Councillor Clocherty moved that the licence be not suspended.  On a vote, 2 Members voted for the amendment and 4 for the motion which was declared carried.

DECIDED:  That the licence held by Neil Hart be suspended with immediate effect for its duration.

 

   219      APPLICATION FOR TAXI DRIVER'S LICENCE:  SCOTT McALEES                                               219

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 13 February 1998 by the Director of Central Services on an application for a Taxi Driver's Licence by Scott McAlees following an objection by the Chief Constable that the applicant is not a fit and proper person to hold such a licence by virtue of his previous convictions.

DECIDED:  That the application be refused.

 

   220      APPLICATION FOR TAXI DRIVER'S LICENCE:  GORDON DAVIDSON                                       220

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 13 February 1998 by the Director of Central Services on an application for a Taxi Driver's Licence by Gordon Davidson following an objection by the Chief Constable on the grounds that the applicant is not a fit and proper person to hold such a licence by virtue of his previous convictions.

DECIDED:  That the application be refused.