NEWS: Civic Government Success for Scott Blair

Posted On: 17 November 2011

Licensing counsel Scott Blair has secured another successful outcome for a client in the recent decision of the Inner House in Donaldson v Renfrewshire Council. Scott acted for Mr Donaldson in an appeal from the Sheriff Court. Mr Donaldson had traded for a number of years in Paisley running a van which sold snacks and drinks. He enjoyed hours of trading outwith the policy hours given by the Council but, on an application for renewal, his trading hours were cut back in line with policy.

The Inner House accepted Scott's argument that the earlier Inner House case of Calderwood v Renfrewshire Council should not be followed and that the Council had in fact failed to give adequate reasons as to why Mr Donaldson should no longer be treated as an exception to their policy on hours. Sir Crispin Agnew QC acted for Renfrewshire Council.

The opinion of the court can be found at: http://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/opinions/csih66.html