Venue: Microsoft Teams
Contact: Fiona McCallum Tel. No. 01546 604392
No. | Item |
---|---|
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Councillors McCuish, MacMillan and Taylor. |
|
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST Minutes: There were no declarations of interest. |
|
CIVIC GOVERNMENT (SCOTLAND) ACT 1982: APPLICATION FOR GRANT OF TAXI CAR LICENCE (W ROBINSON, CRAIGNURE, ISLE OF MULL) Report by Head of Legal and Regulatory Support Minutes: The
Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.
In line with recent legislation for Civic Government Hearings, the
parties (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 joined the meeting by telephone. The
Chair then outlined the procedure that would be followed and invited the
Applicant to speak in support of his application. APPLICANT Mr
Robinson told the Committee that he was applying for a licence for a 9 seater
taxi with disabled access. He said that
it would be good for the community as he lived in Craignure and the other taxis
on the island were based 45 minutes’ drive away in Tobermory, and they did not
have disabled access. He added that it
would be good for people coming off the ferry. MEMBERS’ QUESTIONS Councillor
Trail asked Mr Robinson if he would be operating exclusively on the island of
Mull. Mr Robinson replied yes he would,
unless he was required to take someone to Oban, for example, if a wheelchair
user required to be taken to a hospital appointment in Oban. Councillor
Devon asked what kind of disabled access the taxi had and if it could
accommodate a large power chair. Mr
Robinson advised that the access was via the side door using ramps and that the
taxi could accommodate a large power chair.
Councillor Devon then asked if he would travel to Tobermory to pick up a
wheelchair user to which he replied he would. Councillor
Colville referred to Mr Robinson already holding a taxi drivers licence and
asked if he was currently using it. Mr
Robinson said that he had last driven in August 2021 and that the person he had
been driving for had chosen to give up his taxi. Councillor Colville then asked what other
taxis operated on Mull. Mr Robinson said
that there were 2 private hire taxis and one that could pick up anywhere. Councillor
Kinniburgh asked if this would be the only disabled access taxi on Mull. Mr Robinson said it would be and Councillor
Devon also confirmed that it would be. Councillor
Devon referred to the side access of the taxi and asked how many people it
could hold. Mr Robinson advised that the
taxi could hold 9 people, and that 6 of the seats folded up and back to allow
wheelchair access leaving 3 seats for other passengers. Councillor Devon asked if this was a new taxi
to the island and Mr Robinson replied that he had brought the taxi to Mull from
Manchester. SUMMING UP Applicant Mr
Robinson advised that he had applied for a licence for a 9 seater taxi, 6 seats
plus 3, with disabled access that he planned to operate in the area of
Craignure and Tobermory. Mr
Robinson confirmed that he had received a fair hearing. DEBATE Councillor
Freeman advised that he had no objection to the application and was supportive
of applications with wheelchair access.
He advised that he had no concerns and would move approval at the
appropriate time. Councillor
Green agreed with Councillor Freeman adding that it would be a valuable
addition to the island of Mull and to its visitors. He advised he would be supporting approval of
the application. Councillor
Moffat also agreed, advising that it would be perfect for the island. Councillor
Devon advised that she welcomed the application as a wheelchair user as it
would be the only taxi on Mull with wheelchair access. She advised she welcomed
approval of the application. Councillor
Redman advised that he supported the application as it would benefit the area
and there were no current facilities on the island for wheelchair users. Councillor
Kinniburgh said that he agreed with his colleagues, he referred to Mr Robinson
having driven a taxi before for someone else who had given the car up. He also referred to the confirmation from
Councillor Devon that there was no other taxi on the island with wheelchair
access. He advised that he too,
supported the application. DECISION The
Planning, Protective Services and Licensing Committee agreed to grant a taxi
car licence to Mr Robinson. Mr Robinson
was advised that he would receive written confirmation of this decision within
7 days. (Reference:
Report by Head of Legal and Regulatory Support, submitted) |