Posted on the 4th December 2025 in PHTM News

WAKEFIELD COUNCIL LICENSING OFFICER ACCUSES ELECTED MEMBERS OF BEING "CORRUPT"

A Wakefield Council Licensing Officer has accused elected members of being "corrupt" as reason for why they cannot make decisions on taxi Licensing matters.

Several members of the Wakefield taxi & private hire trade were at the meeting and one was so angry and concerned at what was said by this licensing officer that he has lodged the complaint below:

Dear Chief Executive and Leader of the Wakefield MD Council

RE: 'Formal complaint regarding inappropriate comments by a senior officer'

I am writing to lodge a formal complaint and raise serious concerns about comments made by a senior officer during a recent meeting.

As a vested stakeholder, namely a licensed driver, I attended the meeting on Monday 27 October 2025 at Wakefield Townhall, where the officer in question verbally stated that ‘elected members are corrupt’ in reference to why the members are not able to conduct committee hearings.

He had stated, this was due to the national sexual grooming cases, specifically in Rotherham and Rochdale.

This remark is deeply troubling and undermines the integrity of the local authority’s democratic processes.

Such an allegation, made without evidence and in a professional setting not only casts unwarranted aspersions on the elected members but also erodes public confidence in the council’s governance.

It is unacceptable for a senior officer, who holds a position of responsibility and influence to make unsubstantiated claims that could be perceived as defamatory or politically motivated.

This behaviour falls short of the standards expected under the Nolan Principles of Public Life, particularly those of integrity, objectivity and accountability.

I believe this incident warrants a thorough investigation to determine the intent behind the statement, as well as any potential breach of the authority’s code of conduct or employment policies.

 I kindly request that you:

• Initiate an immediate and impartial investigation into the matter

• Provide me with details of the investigative process and timeline

• Take appropriate disciplinary action if the complaint is upheld

• Ensure measures are put in place to prevent similar occurrences in the future

I would appreciate a written acknowledgement of this complaint within 7 working days and a full response within 28 days. Should you require any further information or evidence from me, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter and I look forward in receiving your prompt response.

Kind regards

Mr Adil Hamid


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