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Licensing Committee - Tuesday, 1st September, 2026 10.00 am
September 1, 2026 at 10:00 am Licensing Committee View on council websiteSummary
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The Licensing Committee of Aberdeen City Council met on Tuesday 1 September 2026. The committee approved a 5% increase in taxi fares and amended the policy for Sexual Entertainment Venues. Several licences were granted, including for Houses in Multiple Occupation, Short Term Lets, Late Hours Catering, and Street Traders. The committee also refused one landlord registration.
Taxi Fare Review
The committee approved a 5% increase in taxi fares, which will be published in a local newspaper. Representations regarding the proposed new tariff can be made for one month from the date of publication. The Chief Officer – Governance has been instructed to report any representations back to the Committee on 28 October 2026, or to implement the new fare tariff if no objections are received. This decision followed a deputation by Russell McLeod and Chris Douglas, who were thanked by the committee for their input.
Sexual Entertainment Venue Licensing Policy Update
The committee agreed to amend the Sexual Entertainment Venue (SEV) licensing policy. Section 3, concerning the Appropriate Number of SEVs in a Relevant Locality,
will be updated to state that the appropriate upper limit for the City Centre Locality is zero premises. However, this will only apply to new applications, with a caveat that the discretionary ground of refusal under paragraph 9(5)(c) will not apply to renewal applications from the five premises currently operating as of 1 September 2026. Additionally, Standard Condition 2 will be amended to prohibit the use of any person, cruising cars, or other vehicles by a venue to solicit customers or transport them to or from the venue.
Licensing Decisions
A number of licences were granted by the committee. These included:
- House of Multiple Occupation (Renewal): A licence was granted for 479 King Street.
- Short Term Let (New Operator): A licence was granted for Attic Floor Right, 13 Crown Terrace.
- House of Multiple Occupation (New): A licence was granted for 6 Roslin Terrace.
- Late Hours Catering (Grant): Licences were granted to Papa John's at 475 Great Northern Road and 124 South College Street, with a closing time of midnight daily.
- Street Trader (Grant): Licences were granted to Paulo Stival (33 Burger) on Beach Esplanade, Rushika Hasmukhkumar Chaudhari on Beach Esplanade, and Nubem Group Ltd on Beach Esplanade. Toni Dey was granted a licence for a site located 270m South of Links Road, with the committee noting that the applicant had withdrawn four other proposed locations on Beach Esplanade.
- Taxi Driver Licence (Renewal): A licence was granted.
- Taxi Driver Licence (New Temporary): A licence was granted.
The committee also granted a licence to Paulo Stival (33 Burger) on Beach Esplanade, with instructions for the Chief Officer – Governance to meet with the Beach Masterplan Team to discuss the location of street traders on Beach Esplanade in light of ongoing developments.
One Street Trader (Grant) application from Emma Jane Rowley on Beach Esplanade was refused due to insufficient information on the nature and extent of the proposed activity.
Other Decisions
The committee resolved to grant a 12A certification rating for the screening of an unrated short film at the Belmont Cinema.
In relation to taxi driver licences, an exemption from the Age of Vehicle Policy was approved for Brian Esslemont. Separately, an exemption from undertaking the Street Knowledge Test was approved for Kenneth Collie.
The committee refused the renewal of a landlord registration, deeming the licence holder not to be a fit and proper person. The specific address for this refusal was not detailed in the decision evidence.
Regarding a Taxi Driver Licence (Existing) – Request for Revocation, the committee noted an error in the submitted paperwork, specifically that there was no request for revocation from Police Scotland, and agreed to take no further action.
The committee also reviewed the membership of the Taxi and Private Hire Car Consultation Group, noting the current membership and agreeing that no amendments were required at this time. The Chief Officer – Governance was instructed to review the membership in 12 months.
Minutes from previous meetings of the Licensing Committee, a Special Meeting, and the Licensing Sub Committee were approved. Minutes from the Taxi and Private Hire Consultation Group were noted, as was the Committee Business Planner. There were no urgent business items, notices of motion, or referrals from other council bodies. Declarations of interest were not intimated.
Delegated decisions linked to this meeting
Decision summaries below are AI-generated from the council’s published record. Check the council source or the full decision page before relying on them.
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Street Trader (Grant) - Emma Jane Rowley - Beach Esplanade
Recommendations ApprovedThe Licensing Committee decided to refuse the grant of a Street Trader Licence to Emma Jane Rowley on 01/09/2026. The licence was refused due to insufficient information on the nature and extent of the proposed activity.
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House of Multiple Occupation (New) - 6 Roslin Terrace
Recommendations ApprovedThe Licensing Committee decided to grant the HMO licence for 6 Roslin Terrace. The decision was made on 01/09/2026.
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Minute of Special Meeting of 3 June 2026
Recommendations ApprovedThe Licensing Committee approved the minute of its special meeting on 3 June 2026. The committee resolved to approve the minute.
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Taxi Driver Licence (New Temporary)
Recommendations Approved -
Taxi Driver Licence (Existing) - Request for Revocation
Recommendations Approved -
Landlord Registration (Renewal)
Recommendations Approved -
Declarations of Interest and Transparency Statements
Recommendations ApprovedAberdeen City Licensing Committee approved recommendations on 01/09/2026. There were no declarations of interest or transparency statements intimated.
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House of Multiple Occupation (Renewal) - 479 King Street
Recommendations ApprovedThe Licensing Committee decided to grant the licence for 479 King Street. The decision was made on 01/09/2026. The necessary upgrading works and certification had been completed.
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Notices of Motion
Recommendations ApprovedAberdeen City Council's Licensing Committee approved recommendations on 01/09/2026.
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Urgent Business
Recommendations ApprovedLicensing Committee approved recommendations on 01/09/2026. There was no urgent business.
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Street Trader (Grant) - Rushika Hasmukhkumar Chaudhari - Beach Esplanade
Recommendations ApprovedAberdeen City Licensing Committee decided to grant the licence on 01/09/2026. The applicant Rushika Hasmukhkumar Chaudhari was granted a Street Trader Licence for a hot food pod at the Beach Esplanade. The applicant accepted the roads conditions.
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Deputation by Russell McLeod and Chris Douglas relating to item 8.1 - Taxi Fare Review
Recommendations ApprovedThe Licensing Committee approved recommendations on 01/09/2026. They thanked Russell McLeod and Chris Douglas for their deputation regarding the Taxi Fare Review.
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Taxi Driver Licence (Renewal)
Recommendations Approved -
Review of the Membership of the Taxi and Private Hire Car Consultation Group - CORS/26/163
Recommendations ApprovedThe Aberdeen City Council Licensing Committee decided on 01/09/2026 to approve recommendations regarding the Taxi and Private Hire Car Consultation Group. The committee noted the current membership, agreed no amendments were required at this time, and instructed the Chief Officer – Governance to review the membership in 12 months.
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Street Trader (Grant) - Toni Dey - Beach Esplanade
Recommendations ApprovedThe Licensing Committee granted the street trader licence for a site at Beach Esplanade on 01/09/2026. The committee noted that the applicant had withdrawn four other fixed locations from her application.
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Committee Business Planner
Recommendations ApprovedThe Licensing Committee approved recommendations on 01/09/2026. The committee noted the planner.
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Referrals from Council, Committees or Sub Committees
Recommendations ApprovedAberdeen City Council's Licensing Committee approved recommendations on 01/09/2026.
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Minutes of Licensing Sub Committee of 14 May and 7 August 2026
Recommendations ApprovedThe Licensing Committee approved the minutes of its meetings on 14 May and 7 August 2026. On 14 May, the committee granted a short-term let operator licence for Flat J, 7 Ferryhill Gardens, and deferred a House of Multiple Occupation application for Strathboyne Guest House until upgrading works were completed. On 7 August, the committee suspended a taxi driver licence with immediate effect.
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Taxi Fare Review 2026 - CORS/26/189
Recommendations ApprovedThe Licensing Committee approved a 5% increase in taxi fares on 01/09/2026. The Chief Officer – Governance was instructed to publish the proposed new tariff, accept representations for one month, and then report any received representations back to the Committee or implement the new tariff if none were received.
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Street Trader (Grant) - Paulo Stival - 33 Burger - Beach Esplanade
Recommendations ApprovedThe Licensing Committee granted the street trader licence for 33 Burger on 01/09/2026. The committee resolved to grant the licence and instructed the Chief Officer – Governance to discuss the street trader location at the Beach Esplanade with the Beach Masterplan Team and report back.
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Late Hours Catering (Grant) - Papa John's, 124 South College Street
Recommendations ApprovedThe Licensing Committee decided to grant the Late Hours Catering Licence for Papa John's at 124 South College Street on 01/09/2026. The licence was granted with a closing time of midnight, Monday to Sunday.
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Minute of Previous Meeting of 20 May 2026
Recommendations ApprovedThe Licensing Committee approved the minute of the previous meeting on 1 September 2026. The committee granted licences for two Houses in Multiple Occupation and one Street Trader. They refused one Late Hours Catering licence and suspended one Street Trader licence.
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Request to Screen Unrated Short Film - Belmont Cinema
Recommendations ApprovedThe Licensing Committee decided to approve recommendations on 01/09/2026. The committee agreed to a 12A certification rating for the screening of the film.
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Short Term Let (New Operator) - Attic Floor Right, 13 Crown Terrace
Recommendations ApprovedThe Licensing Committee decided to grant the licence on 01/09/2026. The decision was to grant the licence for Attic Floor Right, 13 Crown Terrace.
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Street Trader (Grant) - Nubem Group Ltd - Beach Esplanade
Recommendations ApprovedThe Licensing Committee decided to grant the licence. The decision was made on 01/09/2026. The committee resolved to grant the licence to Nubem Group Ltd for a street trader at Beach Esplanade.
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Minute of Taxi and Private Hire Consultation Group of 19 May 2026
Recommendations ApprovedThe Licensing Committee approved recommendations on 01/09/2026. The committee noted the minutes of the Taxi and Private Hire Consultation Group meeting of 19 May 2026.
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Request for Exemption from Policy - Street Knowledge Test - Kenneth Collie
Recommendations ApprovedThe Licensing Committee decided to approve the request for exemption from undertaking the Street Knowledge Test on 01/09/2026. The committee approved the request for exemption from undertaking the Street Knowledge Test.
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Sexual Entertainment Venue Licensing Policy Update - CORS/26/177
Recommendations ApprovedThe Licensing Committee approved recommendations on 01/09/2026. The committee agreed to amend the wording at Section 3 to set the appropriate upper limit for the City Centre Locality to zero premises, with a caveat for renewal applications from existing premises. They also agreed to amend Standard Condition 2 to prohibit the use of any person, cruising cars, or other vehicles by the venue to solicit or transport customers.
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