COUNCILLORS slammed the decision to allow a man convicted of 'serious sexual offences' to drive a taxi in Burnley for a year as 'disgraceful'.

UKIP councillor Alan Hosker and Liberal Democrat group leader, Cllr Gordon Birtwistle were 'disgusted' to discover that the individual was granted a hackney carriage licence by Burnley Council in 2014.

Although they were delighted it was revoked 12 months later and council licensing policies tightened subsequently, both politicians slammed the original decision by the borough's licensing sub-committee.

Cllr Hosker discovered the licence had been issued because of a national BBC investigation into the issue of criminals being granted taxi licences in March.

He raised his concerns with senior Burnley Council officials as well as at its licensing committee and full council.
However, council bosses refused to release the details.

Cllr Hosker accused the council of 'throwing a cloak of secrecy over the issue'.

The Lancashire Telegraph understands the male driver had been convicted of indecent assault on a woman before 2004 and there was no suggestion of rape, attempted rape, the use of violence or that the victim was under 16.

When the committee approved the taxi licence on a split decision, the offences, which were more than 10 years old, were considered 'spent' under the then applicable Burnley Council policy.
In 2015, that policy was changed and the clause of allowing drivers with spent convictions was removed.

The driver had his licence revoked an was unable to gain a new one.

Cllr Birtwistle, who also raised the issue with officials and at full council, said: "They appear to have kept it hidden from everybody."

Cllr Mark Townsend, Burnley Council leader, said: "The decision was in accordance with taxi driver licensing policy at the time but it has since been upgraded and improved."

He declined to disclose any details of the driver involved of the exact offence he was convicted of.
Hapton with Park's Cllr Hosker, who works as a taxi driver, said: "I was disgusted to discover this man had been granted a taxi licence.

"It was disgraceful but no-one will identify the taxi driver or say what the offence actually was.
"The council appears to have thrown a cloak of secrecy over the issue, what are they hiding and why are they doing it?

"I am glad it was revoked and the policy changed but it should never have been granted in the first place.

"I would not want my 11-year-old daughter or anyone else's daughter carried in a taxi driven by a man with a conviction for a serious sexual offence.

"It appears the council hid this from their own councillors and if I had not seen the BBC inquiry it would never have come to light."

Former MP Cllr Birtwistle, said: "Granting this licence was disgusting, disgraceful and out of order.

"I am delighted it was revoked but it should never have been given to this man.

"No woman should be in a taxi driven by someone with this type of sexual conviction.

"It is good that our policies have now been tightened but they should not have been that lax in the first place.

"No-one seems prepared to give any details and the council seems to be hiding the details from councillors and the public."

Daneshouse with Stoneyholme Labour councillor Shah Hussain, who was on the licensing sub-committee, said: "This was about an individual's licence discussed in private session so unfortunately, I cannot discuss any details."

A Burnley Council spokesman also refused to identify the driver.


But said: “Burnley Council would like to make it clear that the individual this case relates to is no longer a taxi driver, and has not been so for almost two years.

"He would not now be granted a licence under our strengthened policies.
“Burnley Council puts the highest priority on the safety and well-being of people who use taxis in our borough.

"As national policy has developed, we have proactively introduced best practice and improvements to our local policies.

"In this case a decision was made that was consistent and in line with the council’s convictions policy at the time.

"All the available evidence was taken into account at the hearing and it was determined that the applicant was fit and proper.

“The policy has not been changed as a direct consequence of this case.

"However, since the decision about this individual was made, the council has worked with neighbouring authorities and the police to review and strengthen its convictions policy.

"This has led to greater safeguards to passengers.
"Burnley has also been in the forefront of promoting the need for best practice and consistent standards across the region.

"Burnley’s current policy means that anyone with a sexual offence on their record will not be granted a licence.

"As far as we’re aware Burnley Council now has the strongest convictions policy of any council in Lancashire.

"It is also goes beyond and is more robust than the guidelines of the Local Government Association.
“The council has also introduced compulsory safeguarding training to drivers."

Chairman of the licensing sub-committee in 2014, Lanehead Labour councillor Ann Royle, was unavailable for comment.