Licensing Officer

Full Vacancy Description

Role Overview

To oversee and ensure compliance with all non-highway licensing legislation enforced by the Council, by acting as the primary point of delivery for licensing authorisations and registrations. Monitoring developments in Licensing practice and the business and regulatory environment in which businesses operate. Carry out enforcement action in respect of unlicensed activities.  Oversee, and participate in partnership working with external organisations such as the Police, Pub watch, businesses, in the area and any other stakeholders to facilitate collaborative solutions to shared outcomes.

Manage electronic systems for recording licence applications and compliance of authorisations issued.

Role Purpose:

To be responsible for all duties associated with the administration of the licensing service including the management and maintenance of the licensing database, the receipt and processing of official applications, data entry, amendment and retrieval, monitoring, identifying and reporting on licensing trends and collating official returns.

Certify, record, where appropriate authorise and act upon licence applications, sharing incoming data with partners on an informed basis and as appropriate.

To be able to communicate with and respond to questions effectively to licence applicants, responsible authorities, members of the public and elected members.

To be responsible for interpreting licensing legislation and guidance when dealing with all licence applications

Provide an advisory service to customers and internal and external partners, utilising a detailed knowledge of Licensing law and procedures.

To be able to recognise, interpret and work to statutory guidelines as defined in licensing legislation

To interpret, assess and to report to the Licensing Manager on licensees, licensed premises and licence applications that fail to meet statutory deadlines or guidance.

To work closely with and support the Police Licensing Service, ASB team and other partners as directed by the Licensing Manager

Oversee the day to day contract management of those undertaking administration of the licensing function.

Inspect premises to check compliance with licensing conditions and to support multi-agency working

To inspect private hire and hackney carriage vehicles as required and take appropriate enforcement action

To process and administer private hire and hackney carriage driver and vehicle applications

Carry out enforcement activity to check compliance with Public Protection legislation; to examine procedures and check products and equipment as may be required

Take appropriate enforcement action proportionate to any non-compliance; and advise licensees both verbally and in writing of legal requirements as may be necessary.

Investigate complex breaches of legislation including taking of statements; gathering evidence and interviewing under caution persons suspected of offences in accordance with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, associated legislation and procedural requirements, and  in conjunction with the  Licensing  Manager, take appropriate enforcement action in line with Departmental policies. The investigation may include the seizing of evidence; the taking of witness statements; the submission of goods and samples for testing; the interviewing of suspected offenders; and the issuing of statutory notices to prevent unsafe goods being moved, sold or to require goods to be recalled, or to issue improvement, prohibition and closure notices of premises where competent to do so.

When requested to attend and support pub watch meetings and encourage good links with licensees

To support licensees and their agents in completing licence applications and give advice and be the main point of contact throughout the licensing process.

To advise applicants and the public on licensing matters and where necessary manage the delivery of negative feedback to them on contentious issues.

Prepare reports for prosecution/ licensing review in accordance with evidential requirements; make recommendations as to further action and give evidence in court as required.

To carry out visits/inspections outside of normal working hours.

Where required, to undertake duties associated with investigating, collecting and handling stray dogs. This will include the post holder carrying out manual handling duties.

To carry out licensing visits of pet shops, riding establishments, tattooists, skin piercers and animal boarding establishments

To prepare reports to Licensing Committee in respect of all Licensing matters as required and to deputise at meetings to present reports in the absence of the Licensing Manager

To monitor licensing income on a monthly basis to report the Licensing Manager

To identify outstanding debts in relation to licensing and report outstanding matters to the Licensing Manager and respond accordingly.

To represent the Licensing Service at internal and external meetings

To write and prepare reports and briefing notes associated with Licensing and other operational issues as directed by the Licensing Manager

To positively contribute to the corporate project teams when required.

To oversee and direct temporary staff employed from time to time.

To undertake any other appropriate function as directed by the Licensing Manager and Head of Planning, Regulatory and Heritage

Knowledge and Experience

Essential:

Experience in all aspects of local authority licensing role, with a sound working knowledge of the legal and procedural aspects of local authority licensing and registration functions, relevant government policies and the influence of the business environment.

English Language and Mathematics to GCSE ‘O’ level or equivalent.

An understanding of IT including MS office and spreadsheet \ database packages

An ability to make site visits

Ability to communicate effectively and establish good working relationships

Commitment to innovation, flexible working and team work

Proven ability to form effective working relationships with elected members, senior officers and representatives of other organisations

A full driving licence

Desirable:

A Certificate of Higher Education in Licensing Law and Practice or equivalent

Completion of familiarisation courses in RIPA (Regulatory and Investigatory Powers Act) and PACE (Police and Criminal Evidence Act).

Experience of working with partners and external organisations

Experience of working with Stray Dogs and Animal Licensing, including Pet Sop Licensing, Animal Boarding and Riding Establishments

Experience of using Caps Uniform and Idox

Job Specific Competencies: (All Essential)

Commitment to partnership working

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Good organisational skills

Flexible and responsive

An ability to deal with a wide range of customers.

Decision Making: (All Essential)

Advising Members of the Council and Senior officers on technical matters

Advising colleagues and partners on technical matters

Advising on the validity of responses to applications and requests for Licences and reviews.

Determining license applications under delegated authority .

Key Behavioural Competencies:

Self Aware

Awareness of one’s own behaviour, values, attitudes, strengths and weaknesses

Ability to reflect on one’s behaviour and change them

Awareness of how one’s own behaviour influences others

Has integrity

Authenticity

Leading by example – being the role model you wish others to grow in to

Collaborator

Giving space to others

Enabling development through co-creation and collective learning