Enforcement, Other Roles
South West
Contract
Competitive Salary Offered
Job description Licensing Officer
Job Purpose
To oversee and ensure compliance with all non-highway licensing legislation enforced by the Council which includes premises licensing, street trading, animal welfare, taxi and private hire, safety at sports grounds, skin piercing and tattooing.
Acting as the primary point of delivery for licensing validation, approvals, and registrations. Monitoring developments in Licensing practice and the business and regulatory environment in which businesses operate.
Carry out inspection and enforcement action in respect of unlicensed or non-compliant activities. Oversee and participate in partnership working with external organisations such as the Police, Pub Watch, businesses and any other stakeholders to facilitate collaborative solutions to shared outcomes.
Manage electronic systems for recording licence applications and compliance of authorisations issued.
Key Accountabilities
To assist the Licensing Manager in the administration and enforcement of all relevant licensing functions and to deputise for the Licensing Manager as appropriate
To be responsible for validating, processing and making decisions on licensing applications and where appropriate undertake consultation or mediation
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.
To ensure that all licensing fees are collected and recorded in an efficient and effective manner
Certify, record, where appropriate authorise and act upon licence applications, sharing incoming data with partners on an informed basis and as appropriate.
To be responsible for interpreting licensing legislation and guidance when dealing with all licence applications
To be able to recognise, interpret and work to statutory guidelines as defined in licensing legislation
To work closely with and support Wiltshire Police Licensing Service, Anti Social Behaviour team and other partners as directed by the Licensing Manager
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 relevant legislation; to examine procedures and check products and equipment as may be required
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 Council 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.
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 licensing visits of pet shops, riding establishments, tattooists, skin piercers and animal boarding establishments
To prepare and present reports to Licensing Committee, panels or hearings in respect of all licensing matters as required
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, policy, procedures 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 retain a specialist knowledge in an area of licensing (this could be animal welfare, skin piercing and tattooing, street trading or taxi licensing) and to ensure the team is up-to-date in these areas
To work to tight deadlines involving changing problems, circumstances or demand.
To undertake any other such duties as may be reasonably required , including work outside normal office hours by prior arrangement as appropriate which could include evening meetings or out of hours enforcement activities.
Supplementary Accountabilities
When requested to attend and support Pub Watch and Taxi Forum meetings and encourage good links with licensees
You may be required to supervise and manage the Licensing Administration Officers or Animal Warden in their day-to-day work
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 attend court when necessary for prosecutions and as an expert witness.
To oversee and direct temporary staff employed from time to time.
Knowledge & Experience
Candidates must have substantial knowledge and experience in the following areas of business and will be required to provide evidence of this:
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.
An understanding of IT including MS office and spreadsheet \ database packages
An ability to make site visits
Ability to work to tight deadlines and deliver on time
Ability to communicate effectively and establish good working relationships
Commitment to innovation, flexible working and team work
Experience of working with the public
Ability to carry out inspections, enforcement and investigations and gather evidence.
Ability to manage own time and workload
Proven ability to form effective working relationships with elected members, senior officers and representatives of other organisations
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 Taxi licensing
Experience of skin piercing and tattooing licensing
Experience of street trading
Experience of using IDOX Uniform
A full driving licence
Qualifications
English Language and Mathematics to GCSE ‘O’ level or equivalent.
A Certificate of Higher Education in Licensing Law and Practice or equivalent
Decision Making
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 .
To work to tight deadlines involving changing problems, circumstances or demand.
Creativity and Innovation
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.
Provide an advisory service to customers and internal and external partners, utilising a detailed knowledge of Licensing law and procedures.
Commitment to innovation, flexible working and team work
Take appropriate enforcement action proportionate to any non-compliance; and advise licensees both verbally and in writing of legal requirements as may be necessary.
To advise applicants and the public on licensing matters and where necessary manage the delivery of negative feedback to them on contentious issues.
Contacts and Relationships
To be able to communicate with and respond to questions effectively to licence applicants, responsible authorities, members of the public and elected members.
Colleagues from external agencies – eg other health professionals, the Police, Inland Revenue, Fire Authority etc - to share intelligence on criminal activity and engage in joint initiatives
Other Council service areas
BSW Clinical Commissioning Group
National Government Agencies
Business owners and senior managers, landlords
Members of the public
This Vacancy is no longer open for applications. Please search vacancies or submit your CV
Enforcement, Other Roles
South West
Contract
Competitive Salary Offered