Are some councillors overruling officials to get taxi drivers with convictions back on the road? Councillor hits out after colleagues hand reprieves to four out of five drivers brought before regulatory panel
It is thought one had a conviction for assault while others had committed motoring offences
Taxi drivers with criminal and motoring convictions are being cleared to drive by councillors against the advice of officials, it has been claimed.
Fears that Kirklees regulatory panel, made up of elected councillors, is ignoring guidelines have been raised by a councillor who sat on the panel.
Denby Dale Tory, Clr Michael Watson, has revealed that at a recent review of five drivers’ conduct, all but one were given the all clear, contrary to advice by council officers.
It is thought one had a conviction for assault while others had committed motoring offences .
The decisions were made behind closed doors preventing the Examiner from hearing the facts and the reasoning behind the decisions.
The council also does not publish details of its “fit and proper” rulings for taxi drivers for legal reasons.
Councillors selected for the panel are given guidelines on how to judge if an exception should be made.
Wording from the 15-page document advises: “There may be occasions where it is appropriate to depart from the guidelines, for example where the offence is a one-off occasion or there are exceptional mitigating circumstances...”
It goes on: “...a criminal history in itself may not automatically result in refusal and a current conviction for a serious crime need not bar an applicant permanently from becoming licensed.”
Clr Watson said he agreed with councillors overturning one case but a further three out of the five went against recommendations against his wishes.
He said: “If officers are putting people in front of the panel you would conclude they have committed one of the offences.
“In four out of five at the last panel, the committee took a different view that they were not in breach of the conditions.
“Councillors are allowed to give them a reprieve if there are exceptional circumstances. But it just doesn’t stack up that this many are allowed.
“My concern is that the policy is not being followed.”
Kirklees is one of the few local authorities that allows politicians to rule on taxi licensing matters.
Notable other authorities that do include Rossendale and Rotherham - both of which have suffered high profile child sex exploitation scandals.
Clr Watson, raised his concerns at Kirklees Council’s full council.
Clr Ken Smith, Chair of the licensing committee, which oversees the regulatory panel, admitted to the chamber that at least one driver had been licensed in the past 12 months despite having a conviction for assault.
At the meeting, Clr Smith said the committee took the fit and proper test “extremely seriously” but said he had some “sympathy” with Clr Watson’s position.
He said the policy allowed some flexibility but he thought it needed to be “firmed up”.
“Our policy has been looked at and amended three times already this year,” he said.“Personally I think it could do with further amendment.
“There’s nothing more important than the safety of our public – that’s our first duty.“
Clr Smith indicated that the council was considering taking taxi licensing decisions out of the hands of elected members .
He said news on the matter would be available shortly.
The Examiner asked Kirklees Council for an update on the situation but none was available.
source:
http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yor ... s-10450188
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