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LICENSING AND REGISTRATION PANEL - 17 MAY 2001
Licensing and Registration Panel
Thursday 17 May 2001 at 3.00 pm
Present: Councillors Calvert, McCormick, Morrison (D), Morrison (M), Nimmo and Rebecchi.
Chair: Councillor Morrison (D) presided.
In attendance: Mr G Douglas (for Director of Legal & Support Services).
Apologies: Councillor McGraw.
The following paragraphs are submitted for information only, having been dealt with
under the powers delegated to the Panel.
448
Application for Taxi Licence - Kathleen O'Hare
448
There was submitted a report dated 24 April 2001 by the Director of Legal & Support
Services on an application for a Taxi Licence by Kathleen O'Hare who had omitted to make
timeous application for her licence to be renewed before its expiry on 31 March 2001. The
report advised that Mrs O'Hare’s licence was granted following the use of the emergency
powers procedure under Standing Order 66(a).
Noted
449
Applications for Permits for Amusement with Prizes Machines -
449
Mango, 204 Dalrymple Street, Greenock
Word-Up, 210 Dalrymple Street, Greenock
There was submitted a report dated 3 May 2001 by the Director of Legal & Support
Services on applications for Permits for Amusement with Prizes Machines from Lapwine
(Licence) Ltd to situate one machine within each of the premises known as Mango, 204
Dalrymple Street, Greenock and Word-Up, 210 Dalrymple Street, Greenock.
Decided: that the applications be granted.
450
Taxi Licensing: Demand for Taxis
450
There was submitted a report by the Director of Legal & Support Services on the responses
received following the survey carried out by the Director of Legal & Support Services to
ascertain the demand for the services of taxis within Inverclyde. Following discussion,
Councillor Morrison (D) moved (i) that the Panel take the view that there was no
significant unmet demand for the services of taxis within Inverclyde, (ii) that it be remitted
to the Director of Legal & Support Services to submit a report on the current procedure
allowing for the surrender/transfer of taxi licences and (iii) that it be remitted to the
Director of Legal & Support Services to carry out at regular intervals a survey of demand
for the services of taxis to ensure the Council as Licensing Authority is kept informed as to
the current position and to investigate further available methods of survey. As an
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amendment, Councillor Morrison (M), as an amendment to part (i) of the motion, moved
that the Panel take the view that the results of the survey were inconclusive and did not
show that there was no significant unmet demand for the services of taxis within the area
and that additional taxi licences should be granted. On a vote, 1 Member voted for the
amendment and 5 for the motion which was declared carried.
Decided:
(1) that the Panel take the view that there is no significant unmet demand for the services
of taxis in Inverclyde;
(2) that it be remitted to the Director of Legal & Support Services to submit a report on the
current procedure allowing for the surrender/transfer of taxi licences; and
(3) that it be remitted to the Director of Legal & Support Services to carry out at regular
intervals a survey of demand for the services of taxis to ensure the Council as Licensing
Authority is kept informed as to the current position and to investigate further available
methods of survey.
451
Application for Taxi Licence - Samuel Ross
451
There was submitted a report dated 8 May 2001 by the Director of Legal & Support
Services on an application for a Taxi Licence by Samuel Ross. The Panel heard Mr Ross in
support of his application.
Councillor Nimmo declared an interest in this item and took no part in its consideration or
decision.
Following discussion, Councillor Morrison (M) moved that the application be granted. As
an amendment, Councillor Rebecchi moved that the application be refused. On a vote,
1 Member voted for the motion and 4 for the amendment which was declared carried.
Decided: that the application be refused.
452
Applications for Taxi Licences - James A McPate
452
There was submitted a report dated 8 May 2001 by the Director of Legal & Support
Services on applications for three Taxi Licences by James A McPate.
Decided: that the applications be refused.
453
Application for Taxi Licence - William J Smith
453
There was submitted a report dated 8 May 2001 by the Director of Legal & Support
Services on an application for a Taxi Licence by William J Smith. The Panel heard
Mr Smith in support of his application. Following discussion, Councillor Morrison (M)
moved that the application be granted. As an amendment, Councillor Rebecchi moved that
the application be refused. On a vote, 1 Member voted for the motion and 5 for the
amendment which was declared carried.
Decided: that the application be refused.
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LICENSING AND REGISTRATION PANEL - 17 MAY 2001
454
Application for Taxi Licence - John M Harvey
454
There was submitted a report dated 8 May 2001 by the Director of Legal & Support
Services on an application for a Taxi Licence by John M Harvey. The Panel heard
Mr Hendry, agent for the applicant, and Mr Harvey. The applicant advised that he would
surrender an existing Private Hire Car Licence previously issued for a vehicle in his
business if the new application was granted.
Decided:
(1) that the application be granted subject to the conditions restricting operation of the
licences to Inverkip and Wemyss Bay as detailed in the restricted licences presently in
circulation;
(2) that the licence be granted to the applicant personally and therefore be non-transferrable;
and
(3) that an existing Private Hire Car Licence held by the applicant be surrendered.
455
Applications for Taxi Licences - Robert Marshall
455
There was submitted a report dated 8 May 2001 by the Director of Legal & Support Services
on applications for two licences by Robert Marshall. The Panel heard Mr Marshall in
support of his applications. Mr Marshall advised that he would surrender two of his existing
Private Hire Car Licences if the new applications were granted.
Decided:
(1) that the applicant be granted one licence subject to the conditions restricting operation
of the licences to Inverkip and Wemyss Bay as detailed in the restricted licences presently
in circulation;
(2) that the licence be granted to the applicant personally and therefore be non-transferrable;
(3) that one of the existing Private Hire Car Licences currently held by the applicant be
surrendered; and
(4) that the application for a second taxi licence be refused.
It was agreed in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act
1973 as amended that the public and press be excluded from the meeting during
consideration of the following items of business on the grounds that the business
involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 6 of
Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.
456
Taxi Advertising - "Whole" Vehicle Proposal
456
There was submitted a report dated 13 April 2001 by the Director of Legal & Support
Services on a request from a businessman to consider a proposal for "whole" vehicle
advertising as an exception to the current policy for signage on taxis, with particular
reference to a permitted extent of advertising on the exteriors of taxis. The businessman
was present and spoke to the Panel on his request. Following discussion, Councillor
Morrison (M) moved that the request be granted. As an amendment, Councillor Rebecchi
moved that the request be granted but that there be no advertising on the rear bumper of the
vehicle. On a vote, 1 Member voted for the amendment and 5 for the motion which was
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declared carried.
Decided:
(1) that the request be agreed; and
(2) that it be remitted to the Director of Legal & Support Services, in consultation with the
Chairperson, Councillor McCormick and a Member of the Minority Groups, to determine
any further proposals for "whole" vehicle advertising.
457
Application for Taxi Driver's Licence - Luigi Marturano
457
There was submitted a report dated 18 April 2001 by the Director of Legal & Support
Services on an application for a Taxi Driver’s Licence by Luigi Marturano following a
medical report from the Council's Medical Examiner intimating that he does not consider
Mr Marturano to be medically fit to hold a Taxi Driver's Licence. The Panel heard
Mr Marturano in support of his application. Following discussion, Councillor Nimmo
moved that the application be refused. As an amendment, Councillor Morrison (M) moved
that the application be granted. On a vote, 2 Members voted for the amendment and 4 for
the motion which was declared carried.
Decided: that the application be refused.
458
Application for Taxi Driver's Licence - Brian Campbell
458
There was submitted a report dated 24 April 2001 by the Director of Legal & Support
Services on an application for a Taxi Driver’s Licence by Brian Campbell following an
objection by the Chief Constable that the applicant was not a fit and proper person to hold
such a licence by virtue of his previous conviction.
Decided: that the application be refused.
459
Application for Taxi Driver's Licence - Graham Cromar
459
There was submitted a report dated 19 April 2001 by the Director of Legal & Support
Services on an application for a Taxi Driver’s Licence by Graham Cromar following an
objection by the Chief Constable that the applicant was not a fit and proper person to hold
such a licence by virtue of his previous convictions. The Panel heard Acting
Superintendent Scally and Mr Cromar. Following discussion, Councillor Nimmo moved
that the application be granted. As an amendment, Councillor McCormick moved that the
application be refused. On a vote, 2 Members voted for the motion and 4 for the
amendment which was declared carried.
Decided: that the application be refused.
460
Application for Taxi Driver's Licence - Donald Warnock
460
There was submitted a report dated 19 April 2001 by the Director of Legal & Support
Services on an application for a Taxi Driver’s Licence by Donald Warnock following an
objection by the Chief Constable that the applicant was not a fit and proper person to hold
such a licence by virtue of his previous conviction. The Panel heard Acting Superintendent
Scally and Mr Warnock.
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Decided: that the application be granted.
461
Request for Suspension of Private Hire Car Licence - David McKenna
461
There was submitted a report dated 25 April 2001 by the Director of Legal & Support
Services requesting the Panel to consider suspension of the Private Hire Car Licence held
by David McKenna on the grounds that the applicant was not a fit and proper person to
hold a Private Hire Car Licence by virtue of his previous convictions.
Decided: that the Private Hire Car Licence held by David McKenna be suspended
immediately.
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