APPROVED Minute of Licensing Committee - 6 December 2023
West Dunbartonshire Council · 16 January 2024
Back to Licensing Committee — 16 January 2024 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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659 LICENSING COMMITTEE At a Meeting of the Licensing Committee held in the Council Chamber, Clydebank Town Hall, 5 Hall Street, Clydebank, G81 2NR on Wednesday, 6 December 2023 at 2.00 p.m. Present: Councillors Ian Dickson, Gurpreet Singh Johal, June McKay, Lawrence O’Neill and Chris Pollock. Attending: Michael McDougall, Manager of Legal Services; Robert Mackie, Senior Licensing Officer; and Lynn Straker, Committee Officer. Also Attending: Sergeant David Holmes, Police Scotland; Mr Aire; and Mr Mullen. Apologies: Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Councillors James McElhill, John Millar and Hazel Sorrell. Councillor Lawrence O’Neill in Chair DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST It was noted that there were no declarations of interest in any of the items of business on the agenda. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING The Minutes of Meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 11 October 2023 were submitted and approved as a correct record. OPEN FORUM The Committee noted that no open forum questions had been submitted by members of the public.
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660 APPLICATION FOR GRANT OF A TAXI/PRIVATE HIRE CAR DRIVER’S LICENCE A report was submitted by Chief Officer – Regulatory and Regeneration presenting an application for grant of a Taxi/Private Hire Car Driver’s Licence submitted by Mr. Allan Aire, Shalimar, Dalmonach Road, Bonhill, Alexandria G83 9AG. Members first heard from Mr Michael McDougall, Manager of Legal Services, in introduction to the hearing. They then heard from Sergeant David Holmes, Police Scotland, who detailed the reason for the letter from the Chief Inspector. Members finally heard from Mr Aire, who detailed why he thought Members should grant him a Taxi/Private Hire Car Driver’s Licence. After discussion, Councillor O’Neill moved to refuse the grant of licence as Mr Aire is not a fit and proper person to hold a Taxi/Private Hire Car Driver’s Licence. The motion was unanimously agreed. DECIDED:- Members agreed to refuse the grant of a Taxi/Private Hire Car Driver’s Licence is not a fit and proper person to hold a licence of this type. EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC The Committee agreed to approve the following resolution to exclude the press and public from the meeting to allow the following item to be heard:- “That under Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1973 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it may involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 14 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.” HEARING REGARDING POSSIBLE SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION OF A TAXI DRIVER’S / PRIVATE HIRE CAR’S DRIVER’S LICENCE A report was submitted by Chief Officer – Regulatory and Regeneration asking Members to consider a request from the Chief Constable of Police Scotland for the suspension of a Taxi Driver's/Private Hire Car Driver's Licence. Members also had the option to revoke the licence. After discussion and having heard from Mr McDougall, Manager of Legal Services, in introduction to the hearing, Members then heard from Sergeant David Holmes, Police Scotland, detail the reason why the Chief Constable does not believe Mr Mullen is a fit and proper person to hold a Taxi Driver/Private Hire Car Driver’s Licence.
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661 Members then heard from Mr Mullen, who detailed why he thought his licence should not be suspended. After further explanation, Members then heard from Mr McDougall who detailed what the options were to Members based on information provided. After further discussion, and in answer to Members’ questions, Members agreed to take no action and end the suspension of the Licence. DECIDED:- Members agreed to take no action and end the suspension of the Licence. The meeting closed at 2.31 p.m.