Seems he was lucky to keep his licence - recall that a year ago he lost his licence in another council area, and that was upheld by magistrates on appeal:
https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news ... ing-239990And that was before his recent conviction for threatening behaviour:
https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news ... ng-1580173Lots of comments on the website below the article following about the politics of it all. I'm saying nothing
Former Labour councillor CAN keep driving taxis in Leicester after criminal convictionhttps://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news ... ep-1672437He is one of seven convicted criminals permitted to drive in the city in the last yearA former Labour councillor has been allowed to keep his licence to drive a taxi in Leicester despite being convicted of threatening a fellow cabbie.
Leicester City Council’s licensing committee met this week to decide whether 46-year-old Gurpal Atwal should be stripped of his licence.
Atwal was given 12-month conditional discharge at Leicester Magistrates Court last month.
He denied threatening to kill the father of his business partner after their relationship soured, but he was convicted.
The former member of Oadby and Wigston Borough Council was warned he could lose his taxi licence.
However the committee decided not to take this step when they met on Tuesday.
A city council spokesman said: “The licensing enforcement sub committee has reviewed Mr Atwal’s suitability to hold a taxi driver’s licence and concluded that he does not pose a risk to public safety.
“They felt that the circumstances of the incident that gave rise to Mr Atwal’s recent conviction were exceptional and unlikely to be repeated, and that did not in itself warrant the removal of his licence.
“The proper process has been followed and all relevant information, including his past record, was taken into account when making this decision."
Atwal resigned his seat on Oadby and Wigston Borough Council after its licensing officials removed his licence after deeming him not a fit and proper person to drive a taxi.
He challenged the decision but lost the case after magistrates were told he “sat in his pants outside a swimming pool because he believes that’s acceptable.”
The Mercury asked the city council if any other taxi drivers in the city hold licences despite having criminal convictions.
The council said seven licences were granted to people with convictions for minor offences though it has not said what they are.
The council spokesman said: “Seven taxi drivers have been licensed in the last 12 months following formal hearings held to consider their suitability on the grounds of having convictions.
"We use clear guidelines on what is or isn’t acceptable, and follow the same procedure to consider each case on its own merits.
“The licensing committee can grant a new licence, revoke or suspend an existing licence, or allow a driver to retain an existing licence, dependant on the nature of the offence and the risk posed by the driver.
“For example, anyone convicted of a sexual offence would be banned from operating as a taxi driver, whereas more minor convictions would be judged depending on their seriousness, how long ago they happened, and the circumstances surrounding them.
“The guidelines are publicly available on the city council’s website.”
Login
Register
FAQ
