Councillor loses appeal over loss of taxi licence

A Labour councillor has been refused a taxi licence after a series of incidents including being accused of sitting outside a swimming pool in his underpants, it has been reported.

Gurpal Atwal, a member of Oadby and Wigston Borough Council, was denied his licence application by the council and this has been upheld on appeal by magistrates.

Oadby and Wigston’s licensing committee decided in January that Mr Atwal was not a fit and proper person to be a taxi driver, although he passed a DBS check.

Leicestershire County Council legal officer Dave Gill, who acted for the borough under a shared service deal, said: “In essence there were a number of allegations. From 2015 there were a consistent number of complaints. No charges, but alleged offences and contact with police. The council’s single sole duty is to protect the public.”

Evidence from Oadby and Wigston included claims that Mr Atwal used unlicensed drivers on school runs and “sat in his pants outside a swimming pool”.

Mr Atwal said he had worked as a taxi driver for 20 years and the allegation made against him were false and arose from a business dispute in which he is engaged. He still has a taxi licence in Leicester.

Mark Smulian