Highland Council to hear urgent motion after convicted rapist surrenders taxi licences

Highland councillors are set to scrutinise the decision to allow a convicted rapist to keep his taxi operator’s licence.

David Brown, 50, was jailed for nearly seven years for raping an 18-year-old passenger in a layby before dumping her on a freezing night in December 2023.

He had his taxi driver’s licence suspended in January 2024 after details of his crime emerged.

In June this year, a Highland Council committee voted in private to allow a taxi operator’s licence in Brown’s name to continue. Police had objected to allowing the licence to continue, but Brown’s wife had argued at the meeting that she needed the licence to keep earning a living.

Following public backlash, the council announced the decision would be reconsidered.

But on Monday, less than 24 hours before the scheduled full council meeting, Brown surrendered both of his licences to Highland Council.

The surrender means the licences immediately cease to have effect, removing the legal basis for the full council to formally revoke them.

However, council Convener Bill Lobban confirmed Tuesday’s special meeting will proceed in public so members can hear the urgent motion regarding the decision.

The motion states: “This Council supports the decision of the chief officer legal and governance to bring the decision taken by Licensing Committee on June 23, 2026 to a special meeting of the Highland Council for further consideration.

“The surrender of these licences on August 3, means that they immediately ceased to have effect and consequently there is no decision for the special Council to reach today. We nevertheless wish it to be made known that this unprecedented action was justified.”

Controversial decision

Six male councillors voted to allow him to keep the licence after his wife argued she needed the vehicle licence to continue to earn a living, despite police objections.

Since the decision, four members have resigned from the committee, and a fifth was suspended by his party.

Almost 6,000 people signed an online petition demanding the council revoke Brown’s taxi operator’s licence.

Councillor Lobban said it was essential the meeting went ahead to formally address the committee’s original ruling.

“Today, David Brown surrendered his taxi operator licences, meaning there is no longer a legal basis to proceed with tomorrow’s Special Meeting of The Highland Council,” he said.

“Had the item gone ahead, I am confident the full membership of the Council would have made the right decision based on the information before them.

“Personally, having considered the papers submitted for the special meeting originally to be held tomorrow, I find it impossible to understand how the Licencing Committee reached their original decision.

“The meeting of the Council tomorrow will now instead consider an urgent motion from myself.”