There were no declarations of interest or transparency statements intimated prior to the commencement of the meeting.

Under reference to item 2 of the Minute of the meeting of this Board held on 14 November 2024, there was submitted a report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to the review of taxi fares within Renfrewshire.

The report intimated that, following consideration of responses to an initial consultation, the Board, at its meeting held on 14 November 2024, agreed a proposal to fix a new fare scale as detailed in paragraph 1.2 of the report. This proposal was advertised in the press on 4 December 2024 inviting representations on the proposal in writing no later than 4 January 2025.

The report advised that one representation had been received from Renfrewshire Public Hire Association and this was detailed at paragraph 1.5 and Appendix 2 of the report.

The Convener proposed that as a new fares scale for Renfrewshire, the advertised proposal detailed in paragraph 1.2 and Appendix 1 of the report be approved and that the recommendations in the report be otherwise agreed. This was agreed unanimously.

DECIDED:

(a) That as a new fares scale for Renfrewshire, the advertised proposal detailed in paragraph 1.2 and Appendix 1 of the report be approved; 

(b) That it be agreed that this fares scale shall come into effect on 14 April 2025; 

(c) That it be agreed that thereafter, officers be authorised to give notice to (i) all operators of taxis operating in Renfrewshire and (ii) the persons and organisations appearing to the Board to be representative of the operators of taxis operating within Renfrewshire, being the parties initially consulted, of the fares scale fixed and its effect, the date on which it is to come into effect and the rights of appeal against the scale, all as set out in Section 17 of the Act, as amended; and 

(d) That officers be authorised to publish the fares scale, as soon as practicable following expiry of the period for appeal to the Traffic Commissioner, or, if appealed, as soon as practicable after determination of the appeal, by giving notice of the scales in an advertisement in a newspaper circulating in Renfrewshire and to specify therein that the scales shall come into effect on 14 April 2025, in terms of Section 18A of the Act.

There was submitted the undernoted application for grant of a Skin Piercing & Tattooing Licence. The applicant had been asked to appear personally for the first time together with the objector to the application:- 

Applicant: Stephanie Mullen
Premises: Unit A, 68 Hight Street, Johnstone

Ms Mullen, the applicant, accompanied by Ms Stewart, were invited into the meeting together with Mr Marshall and Ms Ross, on behalf of the Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure, Renfrewshire Council, who had submitted an objection to the application. After consideration of all matters before the Board, the Convener proposed that consideration of the application be continued to enable the premises to be reinspected by Environment, Housing & Infrastructure and, if required, the applicant be invited to a future meeting of the Board. This was agreed unanimously.

DECIDED: That consideration of the application be continued to enable the premises to be reinspected by Environment, Housing & Infrastructure and, if required, the applicant be invited to a future meeting of the Board.

There were submitted the undernoted applications for grant of Private Hire Car Operators’ Licences. The applicants had been asked to appear personally:-

(i) Iain Mcrae

Mr Mcrae, the applicant, was invited into the meeting. After consideration of all matters before the Board, the Convener proposed (i) that the application be granted for a period of one year and (ii) that the policy which stated that “the MPV shall carry a maximum of 7 passengers” be not applied to Mr Mcrae’s Private Hire Car Operator’s Licence and that the vehicle be licensed to carry 8 passengers. This was agreed unanimously. 

DECIDED: 

(a) That the application be granted for a period of one year; and

(b) That the policy which stated that “the MPV shall carry a maximum of 7 passengers” be not applied to Mr Mcrae’s Private Hire Car Operator’s Licence and that the vehicle be licensed to carry 8 passengers.

(ii) Daniel Robert Buttar

Mr Buttar, the applicant, was invited into the meeting. After consideration of all matters before the Board, the Board adjourned to allow members to consider this application. The meeting was reconvened and the Convener proposed that consideration of the application be continued and that, if required, the applicant be invited to a future meeting of the Board. This was agreed unanimously.

DECIDED: That consideration of the application be continued and that, if required, the applicant be invited to a future meeting of the Board.

There were submitted the undernoted applications for surrender and re-issue of Taxi Operators’ Licences. Applicants (a) had been asked to appear personally:-

(a) Present Operator: Kenneth Cook
Proposed Operator: Andrew Buchanan
Licence No.: TX051

Mr Cook, and Mr Buchanan, the applicants, were invited into the meeting. After consideration of all matters before the Board, the Convener proposed that the application be granted. This was agreed unanimously.

DECIDED: That the application be granted.

(b) Present Operator: David Clark
Proposed Operator: Archie McLellan
Licence No.: TX090

After consideration of all matters before the Board, the Convener proposed that the application be granted. This was agreed unanimously.

DECIDED: That the application be granted.

(c) Present Operator: Carol Purse
Proposed Operator: George Doris
Licence No.: TX113

After consideration of all matters before the Board, the Convener proposed that the application be granted. This was agreed unanimously.

DECIDED: That the application be granted.

Exclusion of Press and Public

The Board resolved that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business as it was likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of part I of schedule 7A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

(d) Present Operator: Malcolm Mearns
Proposed Operator: Gary McFarlane
Licence No.: TX094

After consideration of all matters before the Board, the Convener proposed that the application be granted. This was agreed unanimously.

DECIDED: That the application be granted.

There was submitted the undernoted application for grant of a Taxi Driver’s Licence. The applicant had been asked to appear personally:-

Ali Asanousi Musbah

There was no appearance by or on behalf of Mr Musbah. The Convener proposed that the application be considered in Mr Musbah’s absence. This was agreed unanimously. After consideration of all matters before the Board, the Convener proposed that the application be refused. This was agreed unanimously.

DECIDED: That the application be refused.

Under reference to item 3(b) of the Minute of the meeting of this Board held on 15 January 2025, consideration was resumed of application (a) for grant of a Private Hire Car Operator’s Licence and there were submitted applications (b), (c) and (d) for grant of Private Hire Car Operators’ Licences. Applicants (a), (b) and (d) had been asked to appear personally:-

(a) Mohammed Gobara

Mr Gobara, the applicant, was invited into the meeting. After consideration of all matters before the Board, the Convener proposed that the application be granted for a period of one year. This was agreed unanimously.

DECIDED: That the application be granted for a period of one year.

(b) Hussein Suliman

Mr Suliman, the applicant, was invited into the meeting. After consideration of all matters before the Board, the Convener proposed that the application be granted for a period of one year. This was agreed unanimously.

DECIDED: That the application be granted for a period of one year.

(c) Nayef Alnayef

After consideration of all matters before the Board, the Convener proposed that the application be granted for a period of one year. This was agreed unanimously.

DECIDED: That the application be granted for a period of one year.

(d) Yassin Mohamad

Mr Mohamad, the applicant, was invited into the meeting. After consideration of all matters before the Board, the Convener proposed that the application be granted for a period of one year. This was agreed unanimously.

DECIDED: That the application be granted for a period of one year.

There were submitted the undernoted applications for grant of Private Hire Car Drivers’ Licences. Applicant (b) had been asked to appear personally together with Police Scotland who had submitted an objection to application (b):-  

(a) Yassin Mohamad

Mr Mohamad, the applicant, remained in the meeting having not left following consideration of the previous item of business. After consideration of all matters before the Board, the Convener proposed that the application be granted for a period of one year. This was agreed unanimously.

DECIDED: That the application be granted for a period of one year.

(b) Thomas Edward Smart

Mr Smart, the applicant, was invited into the meeting together with Sergeant Finlay, on behalf of the Chief Constable who had submitted an objection to the application. After consideration of all matters before the Board, the Convener proposed that the application be granted for a period of one year. This was agreed unanimously.

DECIDED: That the application be granted for a period of one year.

The Board considered the possible suspension or revocation of the undernoted Private Hire Car Driver’s Licence. The licence holder had been asked to appear personally together with Police Scotland:-

Licence holder: Kevin Kerr
Licence No.: P0495

There was no appearance by or on behalf of Mr Kerr, the licence holder. Sergeant Finlay, remained in the meeting having not left following consideration of the previous item of business, on behalf of the Chief Constable. The Convener proposed that the matter be considered in Mr Kerr’s absence. This was agreed unanimously. After consideration of all matters before the Board, the Convener proposed that Mr Kerr’s Private Hire Car Driver’s Licence be suspended for the unexpired portion of the duration of the licence with immediate effect. This was agreed unanimously.

DECIDED: That Mr Kerr’s Private Hire Car Driver’s Licence be suspended for the unexpired portion of the duration of the licence with immediate effect.

The meeting adjourned at 11.30 am and reconvened at 1.30 pm.

There were submitted the undernoted applications for renewal of Private Hire Car Drivers’ Licences. The applicants had been asked to appear personally together with Police Scotland who had submitted a representation to application (a) and an objection to application (b):-

(a) Applicant: Aminul Islam
Licence No.: P0234

Mr Islam, the applicant, was invited into the meeting together with Sergeant Finlay, on behalf of the Chief Constable who had submitted a representation to the application. After consideration of all matters before the Board, the Convener proposed that the application be granted for a period of two years. This was agreed unanimously.

DECIDED: That the application be granted for a period of two years.

(b) Applicant: Daniel Gillies
Licence No.: P0722

There was no appearance by or on behalf of Mr Gillies, the applicant. Sergeant Finlay, remained in the meeting having not left following consideration of the previous item of business, on behalf of the Chief Constable who had submitted an objection to the application. The Convener proposed that the application be considered in Mr Gillies’s absence. This was agreed unanimously. After consideration of all matters before the Board, the Board adjourned to allow members to consider this application. The meeting was reconvened and the Convener proposed that the application be refused. This was agreed unanimously.

DECIDED: That the application be refused.

Under reference to item 7(b) of the Minute of the meeting of this Board held on 14 November 2024, consideration was resumed of the undernoted application for variation of a Taxi Operator’s Licence. The applicant had been asked to appear personally:-

Applicant: Andrew McCallum
Variation: exception to policy and standard condition 22 to operate a saloon car
Licence No.: TX212c

Mr McCallum, the applicant, was invited into the meeting. After consideration of all matters before the Board, the Board adjourned to allow members to consider this application. The meeting was reconvened and the Convener proposed that the application be granted and that standard condition 22 of his licence be amended to enable Mr McCallum to operate a saloon car. This was agreed unanimously.

DECIDED: That the application be granted and that standard condition 22 of his licence be amended to enable Mr McCallum to operate a saloon car.