‘Like most people, I am horrified that the licensing committee made this decision. There can be no circumstances that anyone can consider a convicted rapist of being a fit and proper person to hold a taxi operators license and I see councillors relying on technicalities to justify their decision, but it was the wrong decision and they must live up to the decision that they made, but this does bring up wider considerations that the law allows this to happen in the first place and I’m currently exploring with fellow MSPs what we do when Parliament returns in September to seek a tightening up of the law with the Scottish Government so this could never ever happen under any circumstances whatsoever.

Four of the six councillors have since resigned from the committee:
• Sean Kennedy (Committee Chairman; Ward: Dingwall and Seaforth)
• John Grafton (Ward: Caol & Mallaig)
• Duncan Macpherson (Ward: Inverness South)
• Willie Mackay (Ward: Wick and East Caithness, Councillor Mackay has also resigned his seat as a councillor entirely)

The Highland Council has taken the unusual step of clarifying the high-profile licensing case involving a convicted taxi operator. In a statement, the Council confirmed that Mr. Brown does not hold a taxi driver’s licence, as it was suspended in January 2024, and he is currently serving a prison sentence following his conviction in May. However, his taxi operator’s licence, which applies to the vehicle itself and cannot be transferred to another person, was recently reviewed by the licensing committee.

Following that meeting, the Chief Officer for Legal and Corporate Governance initiated a formal Notice of Referral. As a result, the committee’s decision will now be referred to a future meeting of the full Highland Council for further consideration by all members.

Radio Skye has contacted Cllr Ruraidh Stewart for comment, as of today, we have had no response.