The Licensing Committee of Aberdeen City Council is scheduled to convene on Wednesday, 28 October 2026. The meeting's agenda includes a review of beachfront street trading policies, consideration of various licence applications, and requests to screen uncertified films.

Beachfront Street Trading Policy Review

A key item on the agenda is the proposed amendment to the Street Trader policy, which would extend the presumption against street trading to the beachfront area. This follows discussions with the Beach Masterplan Team regarding the management of street traders in light of ongoing developments. The report recommends noting that permission to occupy the roadway will not be granted for any further street traders at the beachfront pending the progress of the Beach Masterplan. It also suggests amending the policy to temporarily extend the presumption against street trading to the beachfront, with the exception of renewal applications. This measure aims to ensure that the long-term integration of street traders is considered as part of the wider project.

Licence Applications

The committee is scheduled to consider a range of licence applications. These include a new Short Term Let licence application for Sandra Gardener at 50 Charleston Way, which has attracted four objections from local residents concerned about potential noise, parking issues, and the impact on the quiet residential nature of the cul-de-sac, particularly its proximity to a children's play park.

Renewals for Public Entertainment Licences for PureGym at Kittybrewster Retail Park and the H1 Building, Hill of Rubislaw, are also listed. Information notes indicate that Certificates of Compliance have not yet been received for these applications.

A Skin Piercing and Tattoo Licence application for Natalia Nedoluzhko at Pimp My Hair, 1 Claremont Street, is also on the agenda, with a note stating that a Certificate of Compliance has not been received.

The renewal of a Street Trader Licence for Shake n Burger Shack on the Beach Esplanade Pavement is to be discussed, with objections noted from the Roads department and Environmental Health.

A review of Taxi Driver Licence 1780 for Satheesh Nirupakaran is scheduled. Mr. Nirupakaran has faced three complaints within a month, including allegations of refusing hires to wheelchair passengers and using offensive language. He had previously appeared before the committee in May 2026 regarding a traffic offence that resulted in nine points on his DVLA licence. Mr. Nirupakaran has since applied for a new medical exemption certificate.

An application for an exemption from the Street Knowledge Test for Tolulope Oluwasanya is also to be considered. Mr. Oluwasanya is seeking an alternative assessment method, citing difficulties in retaining geographical information and his current transient residency in Aberdeen.

Requests to Screen Uncertified Films

The committee will consider requests from the Belmont Cinema to screen several films that have not yet been awarded a certificate by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC). These include:

• Fragments of Ice, a documentary exploring Ukraine's late-Soviet years and path to independence, with a suggested age rating of 15.
• Self Preserving Nudity, a film about a Ukrainian woman's experience of exile and trauma, also suggested for a 15-year-old audience.
• Rave, a creative documentary examining Polish techno and rave culture, with content notes including strong language and recreational drug use, suggested for a 15 rating.
• Untitled, a short film about a young gay man concealing his relationship from his parents, which has received several awards, including a BAFTA Scotland award. This film is also suggested for a 15 rating and contains themes of abuse and threat.

The committee will also address items related to urgent and exempt business, minutes of previous meetings, and the committee business planner.