COUNCILLOR David Kinniburgh responds to issues over licensing permits and parking charges in this week's councillor column...

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IN last week’s Helensburgh Advertiser I was somewhat confused by the stance taken by Cllr Iain S. Paterson who raised the issue again about parking charges in Arrochar after his recent holiday to Devon - confused because there are two important events which Cllr Paterson omitted from his observations.

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In February 2018 Argyll and Bute Council unanimously approved an administration budget proposal which included the increased parking charges and, being unanimous, was supported by Cllr Paterson and his SNP colleagues.

Roll forward to February of this year and the annual budget meeting where councils have a legal responsibility to deliver a balanced budget and things get even more confusing.

In the budget pack presented to the council there was a proposal to increase off-street parking charges by 10 per cent, which the administration of the council rejected and did not include in their final budget motion to the council.

This year, though, the SNP group presented an amendment to the budget which was eventually defeated but included the 10 per cent increase in off-street parking charges - and which Cllr Paterson as an SNP member supported.

Had their budget been accepted, the parking charge at Arrochar would now be £9.90 for the day, so it appears he actually supports the increased charges while saying something quite different publicly.

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LOCALLY there has been a lot of publicity over the past few months in the press and on social media in relation to conditions imposed on licensed premises.

Each Licensing Board in Scotland has their own statement of licensing policy which is a statement that addresses the parameters the licensing authority would normally issue licenses to premises or individuals for the sale of alcohol.

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While each board has its own licensing policy taking account of local conditions, each statement is drawn up in accordance with the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 which lists five objectives: preventing crime and disorder; securing public safety; preventing public nuisance; protecting and improving public health; and protecting children and young people from harm.

In Argyll and Bute the terminal hour of licensed premises that the board considers appropriate is midnight Sunday to Thursday, 1am Friday and Saturday.

Premises that wish to operate outwith these hours can do so, but in an application, or premises review, they must demonstrate to the Licensing Board measures that promote the five licensing objectives and how they will adhere to them.