A city councillor has revealed that he is 'cheesed off' by the poor attendance of Czech taxi drivers at council disciplinary hearings.Councillor Eddie Rennie spoke out after hearing that Czech cabbie Petre Ruman was unable to attend the council's licensing committee yesterday.

Mr Ruman, who had been called to explain why he failed to tell the council about a motoring conviction, was away on holiday in the Czech Republic, councillors heard.

Cllr Rennie, Labour member for Sutton and Mount Gould, said: "I am cheesed off with some of these drivers.

"It's not the first time it's happened with drivers from the Czech Republic - it's the fourth or fifth time.

"I think it's total disrespect for this committee, and I think it should be made clear how important this is for them."

Mr Ruman's case was adjourned to be heard at the next meeting of the licensing committee.

A report to the committee states that he should have written to council licensing officers when he was convicted in May 2006 of driving without due care and attention.

But the council did not know about the conviction until Mr Ruman tried to renew his private hire licence last month.

Mr Ruman was first granted a private hire licence by the council in December 7, 2005.

Just two days later, he was spotted driving without due care and attention in Vauxhall Street.

He pleaded guilty to the charge and, at Plymouth Magistrates' Court on May 19 last year, he was fined £150 with £35 costs and his licence was endorsed with three penalty points.

His licence had already been endorsed with three penalty points for a fixed penalty driving offence committed on March 12 last year.

Providing his interpretor was there?