Minute_PPSL Civic Hearing_2.30PM_20 Nov 2024, 09/12/2024 Pre-Agenda Briefing of the Planning, Protective Services and Licensing Committee
Argyll and Bute Council · 18 December 2024
Back to Planning, Protective Services and Licensing Committee — 18 December 2024 and its agenda
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MINUTES of MEETING of PLANNING, PROTECTIVE SERVICES AND LICENSING COMMITTEE held BY MICROSOFT TEAMS on WEDNESDAY, 20 NOVEMBER 2024 Present: Councillor Kieron Green (Chair) Councillor John Armour Councillor Gordon Blair Councillor Amanda Hampsey Councillor Daniel Hampsey Councillor Graham Hardie Councillor Fiona Howard Councillor Andrew Kain Councillor Peter Wallace Attending: Stuart McLean, Committee Manager David Walker, Solicitor Laura Johnston, Applicant 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Jan Brown, Audrey Forrest, Mark Irvine, Paul Kennedy, Liz McCabe and Dougie Philand. 2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST There were no declarations of interest. 3. CIVIC GOVERNMENT (SCOTLAND) ACT 1982: APPLICATION FOR GRANT OF A TAXI CAR LICENCE (L JOHNSTON, DUNBEG, BY OBAN) The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. In line with recent legislation for Civic Government Hearings, the party (and any representatives) were given the options for participating in the meeting today. The options available were by video call, by audio call or by written submission. For this hearing the Applicant opted to proceed by way of audio call and Laura Johnston joined the meeting by telephone. The Chair outlined the procedure that would be followed and invited the Applicant to speak in support of her application. APPLICANT The Applicant advised she had been employed by Oban FM for 26 years prior to being made redundant in July 2024. She advised she had held a taxi licence since October 2018, and sometimes worked in the taxi in the evenings to supplement her earnings. The Applicant stated that as she did not want to be unemployed this was a great opportunity to become self-employed and work in her taxi full time. MEMBERS’ QUESTIONS Councillor Green enquired if there was demand for another taxi in the Oban area and the Applicant confirmed that due to new housing and the expansion of the town there has been an increase in demand. SUMMING UP
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Applicant The Applicant stated that due to the rate that Oban is expanding there were lots of opportunities to be had and she believed becoming self-employed was an opportunity she should take. Councillor Green sought and received confirmation that the Applicant felt she had received a fair hearing. DEBATE The Committee were in agreement that the taxi licence should be granted. DECISION The Committee unanimously agreed to grant a taxi car licence to Laura Johnston and noted that she would receive written confirmation of this within 7 days. (Reference: Report by Head of Legal and Regulatory Support, submitted)