COUNCILLORS must decide next month if a Polish man who failed to declare a previous road traffic conviction in his native country should be granted a licence to drive taxis in the Borders.

The police believe that Daniel Krata is not a “fit and proper person” and, in a letter to last Friday’s meeting of Scottish Borders Council’s Civic Government Licensing Committee, indicated they could not support his application.

Chief Inspector Andrew McLean said Mr Krata had been interviewed at Galashiels Police Station after lodging his application for a taxi driver’s licence in October last year and stated he had no convictions.

But a disclosure check with Polish authorities revealed he had appeared at a court in Lodz on September 1 for “offences under traffic regulations” and was given a suspended probation/supervision penalty.

He was also ordered to pay compensation.

Mr Krata had been asked to make a personal appearance before the committee on Friday to explain his non-disclosure.

But not only did Mr Krata not turn up, the council’s licensing department did not know the nature of the Polish offence as the documents referred to by CI McLean had not been translated for the committee.

“Even if Mr Krata had appeared before us, it was not realistic to expect us to make a decision based purely on his version of the offence or offences in Poland,” said Councillor Gavin Logan after the committee agreed to continue the application.

“I made it clear that we expected at least a full translation of the Polish documents and hopefully an opportunity to question Mr Krata at our next committee meeting on February 20.”