Licensing Report
North Ayrshire Council · 20 November 2024
Back to Licensing Committee — 20 November 2024 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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NORTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL 20 November 2024 Licensing Committee Title: Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 and other Licensing statutes: Licensing Matters Purpose: To advise the Committee of: a) Hearings to be determined Recommendation: 1) That the Committee should decide whether or not to make a Resolution excluding the public from the meeting at which any of the matters in this Report are to be considered; 2) That the Committee consider and determine the matters before them. 1. Executive Summary 1.1 The Licensing Committee's remit is to exercise the Council's licensing functions. These functions arise under many statutes, mainly the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982. Depending on the legislation and the circumstances of each individual case, the Committee is entitled to grant, refuse, renew, vary, suspend and revoke Licences. 2. Background 2.1 The Committee’s business under the 1982 Act is as follows: Appendix A - Licences and Permits where Hearings have been convened Exempt Information 2.2 The Committee will consider "Exempt Information" under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, Schedule 7A. The information is covered by one or more of the following categories of "Exempt Information" under Schedule 7A: Paragraph 3: "Information relating to any particular applicant for, or recipient or former recipient of, any service provided by the authority." Paragraph 6: "Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (other than the authority)." Paragraph 14: "Any action taken or to be taken in connection with the prevention, investigation or prosecution of crime."
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Paragraph 15: "The identity of a Protected Informant" - where "Protected Informant" is defined in Part III as a person who informs the Local Authority about a past, present or future crime, breach of statutory duty, breach of planning control, or nuisance. 2.3 The details of the cases in the Appendix, with any relevant documents (such as letters from the Police or objectors) are in the background papers given to Committee Members and will be sent to the respective Applicants or Licence-Holders before the Meeting. The Schedules are excluded from the published Agenda under Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, Section 50B(2) and (5). This has been done as the Clerk considers that the meeting is likely not to be open to the public while those Schedules are being considered, as they contain "Exempt Information". 2.4. The Committee is entitled, but not obliged, to make a Resolution excluding the public from a meeting during consideration of an item of business whenever it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present during consideration of that item of business there would be disclosure to them of "Exempt Information" (Section 50A(4)). 2.5. For example: Paragraph 3 could apply in relation to information or advice requested by a member of the public. Paragraph 6 could apply to a business activity (such as where an Applicant wants a Licence for business or employment). Paragraphs 14 or 15 could apply where it was alleged that there was criminal conduct or anti-social behaviour committed by or against a Licence-Holder or Applicant for a Licence, or where the Committee was told that any person had committed a criminal offence (whether or not there had been concluded Court proceedings). 2.6. Accordingly, if a Resolution is made: (a) the publicly-accessible Minutes will exclude so much of the proceedings during which the public were excluded (Section 50C); (b) the Minutes will include a summary of the proceedings without disclosing the ‘Exempt Information’ (Sections 50C(2) & 50C(1)(b)). 3. Proposals 3.1 It is proposed that the Committee consider and determine each of the listed cases in accordance with the required procedure. 4. Implications/Socio-economic Duty Financial 4.1 There are possible financial implications in relation to any Licensing decision.
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Human Resources
4.2 None
Legal
4.3 There are possible legal implications in relation to any licensing decision. Depending
on the legislation, there may be a right of appeal.
Equality/Socio-economic
4.4 Equality Act 2010 imposes duties on the Council:
Section 1(1) ("Public sector duty regarding socio-economic inequalities"): the Council
"must, when making decisions of a strategic nature about how to exercise its
functions, have due regard to the desirability of exercising them in a way that is
designed to reduce the inequalities of outcome which result from socio-economic
disadvantage."
Section 149(1) ("Public sector equality duty"): the Council
"must, in the exercise of its functions, have due regard to the need to -
(a) eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct
that is prohibited by or under [that Act];
(b) advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a "Relevant
Protected Characteristic" and persons who do not share it;
(c) foster good relations between persons who share a "Relevant Protected
Characteristic" and persons who do not share it."
The "Relevant Protected Characteristics" are: age; disability; gender
reassignment; pregnancy and maternity; race; religion or belief; sex; and sexual
orientation.
The Clerk has considered these Duties in preparing this Report and any specific impacts
will be evaluated where appropriate. Unless the Clerk advises the Committee otherwise
in a particular case, there are no significant impacts to be considered
Climate Change and Carbon
4.5 None.
Key Priorities
4.6 North Ayrshire Council has priorities for "Communities and Local Democracy" and
"Wellbeing" in the Council Plan 2023-2028 An effective licensing system, e.g.
monitoring the 'fit and proper' status of hire-car drivers and the safety of their cars, helps
achieve Strategic Aim-Wellbeing.Page 4
Community Wealth Building 4.7 There are no Community Wealth Building issues. 5. Consultation 5.1 Consultations have been undertaken where appropriate with Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue, and Council Directorates. Aileen Craig Head of Democratic Services For further information please contact Raymond Lynch, Manager, Legal Services, on Licensing@north-ayrshire.gov.uk. Background Papers None
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Appendix A Case 1 Taxi Driver Licence TDL/01625 Applicant Scott Havlin Case 2 Applicant Taxi Driver Licence Andrew Dysart TDL/02114 Case 3 Applicant Short Term Let Louise Mulvenny NA00790N