Markets Officer

Full Vacancy Description

We are looking for a Markets Enforcement Officer to join our local authority client
 
Purpose of the job:
1. To regulate activities within street markets, isolated pitches and public footway licences according to legislative and other requirements and agreed policies and procedures. Initiate appropriate enforcement, advisory or informative actions with the aim of ensuring the satisfactory performance of the market and securing safe, clean and efficient market areas.
2. To work closely with other Enforcement Officers, Safer Communities services, the Police and Residential Social Landlords within a multi disciplinary model of localisation to make the borough a safer place to live and work. 
3. To work alongside other enforcement officers and Police Safer Neighbourhood Teams, providing a highly visible presence, responding to concerns related to anti-social behaviour (ASB), environmental crime, noise nuisance and other generic enforcement functions as detailed within the Council’s Scheme of Delegation.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:
1. To patrol in uniform alone and or as part of a team of enforcement officers as directed by senior managers to respond to community concerns in relation to ASB, environmental issues, illegal street trading management issues 364 days a year and street market issues.
2. To work within a team structured shift pattern with a requirement to work extended hours and weekend working.  The role holder will be required to carry and use a personal radio, booking on and off duty via the line manager or the Council’s CCTV control room subject to operational requirements.
3. To carry out enforcement functions using the powers delegated to the role holder in accordance with the Council’s Scheme of Delegation as directed.
4. To be the frontline representative for the Council for traders, shopkeepers and the public.
5. To support local Council and Police operational activity as required.
6. To monitor the activities of traders ensuring that trading takes place in accordance with the legislative acts listed and the licence issued, taking effective action to deal with any illegal trading activity inside or outside of market areas.
7. To investigate reports related to anti social behaviour from residents, visitors, businesses and other sources, recording findings and initiating action as necessary.
8. To respond, face to face or by telephone, to enquiries from traders, residents, shop owners, community groups and members of the public; to balance their competing interests and deal effectively with potentially confrontational situations.
9. To maintain an expert knowledge of all the relevant legislation including the London Local Authorities Act 1990, Environmental Protection Act 1990, Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, Trade Marks Act 1994 and a detailed knowledge of the Highways Act 1980, Gambling Act 2005, Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 and the Anti Social Behaviour Act 2003.
10. To work within the standard operating procedures to fulfil the Service’s objectives in tackling anti social behaviour, environmental issues and street market management.
11. To be committed and sensitive to ensuring equality of opportunity in terms of service provision and employment practices and to perform his/her duties in accordance with the  Equal Opportunities Policy.

Job Activities:
1. To conduct patrols in targeted locations across the Borough in uniform and plain clothes, on foot, as directed by team leaders or managers, aimed at tackling criminal activity, enforcing the prevention of environmental crime, dealing with anti-social behaviour, reporting incidents and disturbances to the Police.
2. To attend market areas during hours and days appropriate to each market to maintain a continuing presence.  Maintain trading records and take appropriate action to ensure trading is well regulated and deal with traders and public, often alone, in situations likely to involve conflict.
3. To take the necessary enforcement action to deal with the removal of fly pitchers and initiate action to deal with traders selling counterfeit goods and other serious breaches of legislation, seizing goods as evidence and liaising with other personnel as necessary, including Trading Standards Officers, the Legal Department and Police.
4. To prepare reports, provide statements and give evidence as required to address breaches of legislation and/or licence conditions.  To represent the Council at Revocation panels where necessary.
5. To seize evidence and handle property in accordance with standard operating procedures to ensure integrity of evidence for court proceedings.
6. To undertake property management duties as directed by attending deep storage containers, completing stock inventory, taking goods to auction or court as required.  To ensure property is recorded and stored in accordance with standard operating procedures.
7. To generally liaise with the Team Leader and in particular on any serious breach in legislation or any difficulties in administering policies and procedures.
8. To collect and record data/information relevant to trading activities to enable analysis to be made of compliance with legislative, licence and other requirements.
9. To take appropriate action in dealing with breaches of criminal, civil and bye-laws; issuing FPNs, summons or reporting offenders for legal proceedings in accordance with the Council’s enforcement policy.
10. To be the first point of contact for the public, face to face or on the telephone, for advice and assistance with complaints, dealing with them sympathetically using initiative to resolve problems and liaise with traders on their behalf where appropriate.
11. To issue daily licences to casual traders strictly in accordance with current policies and procedures, assessing competing demands for limited pitches, carrying out the relevant administration in respect of this.
12. To ensure that traders’ vehicles do not obstruct the public highway in the market area and surrounding side streets, except when loading/unloading at permitted times.
13. To collect revenue tickets which will have a monetary value of £300 to £1500 on a daily basis, ensuring accurate recording and depositing.
14. To monitor and report highways and street furniture defects, including street lighting and unsafe and illegal signs within the Market and adjoining areas to the appropriate department.
15. To undertake monitoring of street cleansing operations and initiate enforcement procedures to ensure that contractors achieve contracts standards.
16. To visit private land locations within 7 metres of the highway, to deal with complaints regarding illegal street trading.
17. To monitor and inspect electrical and/or water provision in market areas to ensure these remain in good working order.
18. To ensure all barriers and/or gates in market areas or surrounding roads are closed/opened in line with agreed market times.
19. To carry out licensing site visits/surveys to verify information provided by applicants for public footway and isolated pitch licences and to provide recommendation as to whether a licence should be issued.
20. To undertake duties anywhere in the Borough.
21. To work in accordance with Council policies and procedures, including financial regulations, data protection and confidentiality, personnel procedures, health and safety policies, etc.
22. To distribute refuse sacks, stall canopies or structures and report findings of items in disrepair to the Market Manager.
23. To instigate action to remove items left on the highway after trading hours and in breach of licence conditions.
24. To suspend traders from trading in accordance with agreed processes when serious breaches or incidents occur.
25. To ensure compliance of traders with refuse arrangements ensuring all processes are followed by cleansing operatives, such as removal and return of bins and correct labelling of bins.
26.  To undertake any other duties of a similar nature which may arise from time to time, which are commensurate with the grade of the post and within the capabilities of the post-holder.