Covid 19 - What you need to know - Renfrewshire implement new measures
2020
Prior to the implementation of the next Act, at an meeting of their Emergency Board on Friday Renfrewshire Council took steps under the terms of Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 to allow Officers to determine contested Licensing applications without reference to the Board itself.
A copy of the Licensing Officers’ report can be found here.
The report included a number of emergency measures to allow the Authority to comply with its legal obligations during this extraordinary time including to introduce a temporary policy permitting the temporary cessation of Taxi and Private Hire Car Licences where requested by the vehicle operator (this would allow now licenced persons to drive the vehicle, not as a taxi).
The report stated, “the Council is currently unable to receive new applications, including applications for renewal” (the issue of renewals are to be specifically covered in the new Act, when it is introduced). The Council have therefore proposed to extend the lifetime of existing licences by 3 months.
At this time the report indicates that new applications will not be accepted:
“The Licensing Service will continue to deal with and process those licensing applications already received. New licence applications will not be accepted.”
Although we are sure this is a temporary situation, in light of the current crisis, we hope to see Renfrewshire ‘re-open’ for new application in the near future, perhaps utilising an online system.