Council / Bop Shop to have licence renewed after councillors give approval
A POP-UP record shop in Lerwick will have its second hand dealers licence renewed after receiving the approval of councillors.
The Bop Shop’s application to renew the licence went in front of a special licensing committee on Thursday because there had been an objection from a member of the public.
A report to councillors said that there had been no objection to the licence renewal from any authorities – police, building standards, planning, roads or trading standards.
And there were no objections from councillors on the committee to renewing the licence.
The report to councillors said the Bop Shop is a registered charity and its pop-up record shop held within the Harbour Street premises, usually monthly, is described as a not-for-profit unincorporated association.
The objection said a second hand dealers’ licence should have been refused due to the “nature and extent of activities ‘incidental’ to the licence”.
The objector, whose name was removed from the meeting’s public documents, claimed there would be the “possibility of continuing public nuisance” if the licence was renewed – alleging previous “late night noise”, for example.
But speaking at Thursday’s meeting, Bop Shop chairperson Lyall Halcrow said police have had no issues with the premises in the past.
Shetland South councillor Bryan Peterson also questioned whether it was standard procedure to have a letter such as the one from the objector being in the public record given it contained “essentially unproven accusations”.
A council legal representative said it was a matter for the objector. “We have to consider any objections that are received,” he said.
Peterson remarked that it “says it all to me” that the police had no objections to the application.
During questions Halcrow also told the meeting that the Bop Shop has moved some activities outwith the premises – such as workshops and classes – following discussions with the planning service.
“The planning department are satisfied that we now adhere to our use class,” he said.
Peterson moved that the licence be granted, seconded by Moraig Lyall.
He added that the Bop Shop and its committee provide an “excellent service to the cultural community of Shetland”.
The report to councillors stated that the application would have been dealt with by the council under delegated authority if it were not for the public objection.
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