Licensing and Registration Panel

Thursday 21 February 2002 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Councillors McCormick, McGraw, 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 Calvert.

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

The Convener being of the opinion that the undernoted report by the Director of Legal & Support Services was relevant, competent and urgent moved its consideration to allow the Panel to consider the matter prior to the statutory period for determination of the application.  This was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

177

Houses in Multiple Occupation

The Salvation Army, Fewster House, Terrace Road, Greenock

177

There was submitted a report by the Director of Legal & Support Services on an application for a licence for a house in multiple occupation by the Salvation Army in respect of its establishment at Fewster House, Terrace Road, Greenock recommending that authority be granted to issue a licence with a change to the standard condition regarding the use of a tenancy agreement.

Decided:  that agreement be given to the grant of a licence with a condition allowing a period of six months to finalise the occupancy agreement with the agreement taking account of the current use and purpose of the premises as detailed in the report.

178

Houses in Multiple Occupation

Delegated Authority to Grant Licences

178

Arising from the discussion of the foregoing item there was discussion as to whether the present delegated authority to the Director of Legal & Support Services should be extended to include circumstances where a licence could be granted with a time limit for completion of matters considered to be not of a fundamental nature.

Decided:  that authority be delegated to the Director of Legal & Support Services in consultation with the appropriate Officers to grant licences with conditions requiring completion of outstanding matters which are not a fundamental obstacle to the grant of a licence within appropriate specified timescales provided that there is no objection to the grant, that there are no other unusual circumstances surrounding the application and that no representation< from the applicant on the proposed terms of the licence requires a hearing by the Panel.

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.

179

Application for Taxi Driver's Licence - Paul Thomas Simpson

179

There was submitted a report dated 8 February 2002 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on an application for a taxi driver's licence by Paul Thomas Simpson 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.

Decided:  that the application be refused.

180

Application for Taxi Driver's Licence - John McColgan Way

180

There was submitted a report dated 31 January 2002 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on an application for a taxi driver’s licence by John McColgan Way 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.

Following discussion, Councillor Morrison (M) moved that the application be refused.  As an amendment, Councillor Nimmo 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.

181

Application for Taxi Driver's Licence - Frank Ronald Smith

181

There was submitted a report dated 6 February 2002 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on an application for a taxi driver’s licence by Frank Ronald Smith 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.

Following discussion, Councillor Morrison (D) moved that, as requested by the applicant, consideration of the application be continued to the next meeting of the Panel.  As an amendment, Councillor Morrison (M) moved that the application be refused.  On a vote, 2 Members voted for the amendment and 4 for the motion which was declared carried.

Decided:  that consideration of the application be continued to the next meeting of the Panel.