Licensing and Registration Panel

Wednesday 8 October 2003 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Provost Rebecchi (for Councillor Gallacher), McCormick (M), McKenzie, Moran, Snoddy and Tucker.

Chair:  Councillor Snoddy presided.

In attendance:  Mr G Douglas (for Director of Legal & Support Services).

Apologies:  Councillors Gallacher and Nimmo.

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

695

Application for Permit for Amusement with Prizes Machines

Viva, 204 Dalrymple Street, Greenock

695

There was submitted a report dated 26 September 2003 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on an application for a permit for amusement with prizes machines by Basilio Gonzalez to situate 2 machines within the premises known as Viva, 204 Dalrymple Street, Greenock.

Decided:  that the application be granted.

696

Application for Late Hours Catering Licence

17 Kempock Street, Gourock

696

There was submitted a report dated 26 September 2003 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on an application by Roslyn Ghareh to allow the operation of a take away facility at 17 Kempock Street, Gourock for the following hours: Thursdays 11pm to 1.30am; Fridays and Saturdays 11pm to 1.30am; Sundays 11pm to 1am; Mondays to Wednesdays 11pm to 12.30am and on 24, 26 December and 2 January in each year 11pm to 1.30am.  The Panel heard Mr Gordon, agent for the applicant in support of the application who indicated that his client would accept an amendment to permit the premises to open on Fridays and Saturdays until 1.30 am in addition to the current hours of operation.

Decided: that the application be granted as follows:-

(a)   Thursdays - 11 pm to 12.30 am

(b)   Fridays and Saturdays - 11 pm to 1 am

(c)   Sundays - 11 pm to 12 midnight

(d)   Mondays to Wednesdays - 11 pm to 12 midnight and on 24, 26 December and 2 January in each year 11 pm to 1 am.

697

Street Traders' Licences

697

There was submitted a report by the Director of Legal & Support Services requesting the Panel to consider an amendment to its procedure in the licensing of street traders under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982.

Decided:

(1)   that a trader who already holds a Street Trader’s Licence and who wishes to trade during an event submits an application for a variation of his Street Trader’s Licence and it  be delegated to the Director of Legal & Support Services to determine the application (including the fee to be charged) in  consultation with the appropriate officers and the local member where appropriate;  and

(2)   where a street trader does not have a valid Street Trader’s Licence the application shall be treated as an application for a licence but, notwithstanding that the trading is intended from a fixed site or sites, because of the temporary nature of the events there shall be no requirement to advertise the proposal.

698

Taxi Fares Review

698

There was submitted a report dated 25 August 2003 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on the results of the statutory consultation exercise and subsequent action taken in respect of the taxi fares review.

Decided: that it be remitted to the Director of Legal & Support Services to make the necessary arrangements to implement the new taxi fares scales as follows:-

TARIFF 1

Hiring from ranks or “flag” hirings begun between 6 am and midnight

Initial charge (1,215 yards or part thereof)

£1.50

Subsequent charge (each additional 151 yards or part thereof)

10p

Approximate cost for first mile

£1.90

Approximate cost for each additional mile

£1.20

TARIFF 2

Hirings from ranks or “flag” hirings begun midnight and 6 am and all pre-booked hirings begun between 6 am and midnight

Initial charge (1,179 yards or part thereof)

£1.60

Subsequent charge (each additional 147 yards or part thereof

10p

Approximate cost for first mile

£2.00

Approximate cost for each additional mile

£1.20

TARIFF 3

Pre-booked hirings begun between midnight and 6 am and hirings from ranks or “flag” hirings on 25, 26 and 31 December and 1 and 2 January

Initial charge (1,179 yards or part thereof)

£1.80

Subsequent charge (each additional 131 yards or part thereof)

10p

Approximate cost for first mile

£2.30

Approximate cost for each additional mile

£1.40

WAITING TIME

For each period of 35 seconds or part thereof

10p

SOILING CHARGE

Charge dependent on severity up to a maximum of

£15.00

VAT

The foregoing charges are inclusive of Value Added Tax.

699

Application for Taxi Licence

Inverclyde Taxis Ltd

699

There was submitted a report dated 25 August 2003 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on an application from Inverclyde Taxis Ltd who had omitted to make timeous application for the licence to be renewed before it expired on 31 July 2003.  The report advised that the application had been granted following consultation with the Chief Executive, Councillors Snoddy, Nimmo and McKenzie.

Noted

700

Signage on Taxis

700

There was submitted a report dated 26 September 2003 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on a proposal for a change in the signage issued by the Council for the exterior of vehicles licensed as taxis. 

Decided:

(1)   that the proposal for signage on vehicles licensed as taxis as set out in the report be agreed; and

(2)   that the Director of Legal & Support Services submit a report on the current general position of taxi licensing in the Inverclyde area.

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 for the following items 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.

701

Application for Taxi Driver’s Licence

William Derek Watson

701

There was submitted a report dated 24 September 2003 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on an application for a Taxi Driver’s Licence by William Derek Watson 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

702

Application for Taxi Driver’s Licence

Joseph John Molloy

702

There was submitted a report dated 23 September 2003 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on an application for a Taxi Driver’s Licence by Joseph John Molloy 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.

703

Application for Taxi Driver’s Licence

William Patrick Bauman

703

There was submitted a report dated 23 September 2003 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on an application for a Taxi Driver’s Licence by William Patrick Bauman 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 Mr Bauman in support of his application.

Decided: that the application be refused.

704

Application for Taxi Driver’s Licence

Alan Brown

704

There was submitted a report dated 15 September 2003 by the Director of Legal & Support Services on an application for a Taxi Driver’s Licence by Alan Brown 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 Mr Brown in support of his application.  The Panel also heard Councillor Forbes in support of the application.  Following discussion, Councillor Tucker moved that the application be refused.  As an amendment, Councillor Moran 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.