Councillors grant permission for Uber office in Fife as 400 'incompetent' rejections thrown out

A bid for an Uber office in Fife has been approved after more than 400 objections were thrown out because they were deemed to be incompetent.

Uber Scot Ltd had applied for a licence for a taxi operating office at the Rosyth Business Centre on the Cromarty Campus which attracted a total of 431 objections.

Taxi operators, drivers and associations from across Fife have raised concerns that the arrival of Uber could damage existing taxi firms and drivers already facing difficult trading conditions.

Around 25 were due to present their concerns in person at today’s meeting of Fife Council’s Licensing and Regulation Committee.

However, solicitor Kevin Clancy, acting for Uber Scotland Ltd, put a halt to proceedings within minutes when he said none of the objections were valid.

“All of the objections that have been circulated are, legally speaking, not valid and incompetent,” he stated.

He explained that under legislation, those making representations needed to specify the grounds of the objection, specify the names and addresses of objections and be signed.

Council solicitor Kimberley Langer provided her view on the position.

“I can confirm that none of the objections received were signed by hand or electronically. None have been electronically signed, other than a printed name,” she said.

“My legal opinion is that there are no competent objections and the objections are not competent in terms of legislation.”

A lengthy recess took place while councillors discussed the position and the committee returned with convener, Councillor Tom Adams, moving that the application proceeds.

“I will put forward a motion under the legal advice we have been given that we cannot take these objections therefore there being no further objections,” he said.

“Because there are no objections, the application would have been dealt with under delegated powers and it would never have come in front of us in the first place.”

His motion was seconded by Councillor Donald Lothian and the application was approved.