Job title: Licensing & Compliance Officer

Salary: C1 SCP12 - SCP17 £28,598 - £31,022 FTE

Hours: 37 hours per week

Contract: Permanent / Temporary

Location: 225 York Road, Leeds, LS9 7RY

3 posts available - 2 x Permanent and 1 x Temporary for 12 months

Are you looking to gain experience within a friendly and supportive Licensing Service? Do you have experience working within a regulated service, providing a good customers service to a diverse group of customers?

As a Licensing & Compliance Officer, you’ll thrive on processing licences for taxi and private hire driver applications, and you will be contributing to safeguarding passengers and who use taxi and private hire vehicles in our city.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

As a Licensing & Compliance Officer, you will bring to the role:

To provide a welcoming approach and maintain a polite and professional
To provide a timely, efficient and responsive service to the taxi & private hire trade, public, Officers and other Local Authorities.
To deal with and resolve most enquiries on a drop in or appointment basis, at a counter or in a meet and greet (floor walking) environment.
To be responsible for processing new licence applications or the renewal of licences and Permits.
To ensure that the taxi and private hire trade in Leeds is operated in a professional manner, and that the correct standards of safety, comfort and appearance are satisfied by all vehicles, drivers and operators.
To ensure that all applicants for a personal licence are fully compliant with all aspects if the application process with particular reference to personal suitability.

About the role

Leeds is a vibrant and progressive city with thriving business, social and student communities making daily use of thousands of taxi and private hire vehicles. The council has a duty to ensure that people can use these services safely, confident that all vehicles are inspected and drivers checked in accordance with strict driver and vehicle licensing regulations.

As our next Licensing Officer, you will be based at our office on York Road near the junction with Torre Road. The role is a key link between the team and the trade so strong communication and organisational skills are essential, as is an ability to deal effectively with drivers, whose livelihood may depend on efficient processes and timely service delivery. The post holder will need to communicate confidently with people at all levels within the Section, the Council and external agencies.

You will need to demonstrate strong administrative skills, attention to detail and experience for sustained effectiveness and responsibility for actions in a very busy and pressured work environment.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidancefor further advice on completing your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role, please contact

Dave Ferguson, Licensing & Compliance Supervisor by email: taxiprivatehire.lic@leeds.gov.uk

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visaroute before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job description

Job purpose

The Taxi & Private Hire Licensing Section is responsible for the licensing, inspection and supervision of taxis and private hire drivers and their vehicles. This includes processing applications for operators and drivers, testing drivers and vehicles, and enforcing compliance on the street.

The key objectives of the section is: -

To ensure that the taxi and private hire trade in Leeds is operated in a professional manner, and that the correct standards of safety, comfort and appearance are satisfied by all vehicles, drivers and operators.
To ensure that all applicants for a personal licence are fully compliant with all aspects if the application process with particular reference to personal suitability.

The Council has a statutory function to ensure that ‘fit and proper’ person assessments are conducted prior to the grant of a licence.

The purpose of the Licensing & Compliance Officer is;

To provide a face to face counter service to process taxi and private hire

Responsibilities

To provide a welcoming approach and maintain a polite and professional attitude.
To provide a timely, efficient and responsive service to the taxi & private hire trade, public, Officers and other Local Authorities.
To deal with and resolve most enquiries on a drop in or appointment basis, at a counter or in a meet and greet (floor walking) environment.
To be responsible for processing new licence applications or the renewal of licences and Permits.
To handle, process and balance cash and cheques received while processing licence applications and issue receipts.
To deal with telephone enquiries and respond to emails and letters from the public, trade, outside agencies and other Council departments.
To work at a variety of enquiry positions which are both seated and standing.
To communicate effectively with internal & external customers and colleagues in relation to work undertaken & be well informed on all current policy and conditions.
To ensure effective, timely and efficient input to the licensing system to maintain accurate records and track progress of work.
Undertake appropriate checks in accordance with the ‘fit and proper’ and safeguarding procedures and guidelines, including criminal record checks via the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS), to ensure accurate application submissions are made.
To maintain confidentiality when handling client verification documents (such as bank statements, benefit statements etc) and escalating discrepancies to the licensing supervisor
To maintain confidentiality when handling client verification documents (such as bank statements, benefit statements etc) and escalating discrepancies to the licensing supervisor
Liaise with the Licensing Supervisor, Licensing & Finance Manager, Vehicle Examination team and Enforcement team with regard to individual cases.
To use IT applications and information systems effectively to deliver tasks.
Follow work instructions/ procedures to ensure that clients receive a consistently high standard of service.
To use clerical time efficiently to ensure the smooth running of the licensing office.
Assist with the training, supervision and mentoring of clerical and newly appointed staff, reporting back to line management with relevant feedback.
Assist in the production of information for management reports & contribute to the planning and development of new policies and procedures.
Administer administrative warnings, suspensions or formal written advice under the scheme of delegation with regards to licensing breaches.
Secure and preserve evidence to support all enforcement actions.
To prepare own CJA (Criminal Justice Act) statements in the event of legal/ court action.
Understand the rules of evidence and legal requirements.
To ensure individual key performance indicators are met and to work as part of a team to ensure collective objectives and targets are met.
To work flexibly to meet the needs of employees and the ongoing development of the service.
To fully understand and adhere to the requirements of data protection legislation
To carry out duties in accordance with the Council’s equal opportunities policy and other policies which respect the rights and needs of others
To carry out duties in accordance with Council values
To attend relevant meetings and in-service training and seek to further extend skills, knowledge and experience in order to develop personal effectiveness in the role.
To undertake any other duties that are commensurate with the post.
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills.
Improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and appropriate CPD programmes.
Work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.
Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.
Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g., child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality, and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, and promoting the values, standards, and equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and this role will be expected to work within these parameters.

Qualifications

Qualification demonstrating adbility in English Language equivalent to GCSE Grade C or have one year's relevant office experience.

Essential requirements It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements.

Skills required

Ability to provide a high quality service in a polite and welcoming manner.
Ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of people and provide a high standard of customer service.
Ability to organise own work to achieve targets and objectives.
Ability to work to tight and often conflicting deadlines, maintaining concentration for long periods, despite interruptions and competing demands.
Ability to work flexibly as part of a team, showing initiative to learn and keep up to date with specialist licensing knowledge.
Ability to assist in the training & mentoring of new team members.
Ability to process documentation using Microsoft office software and other information systems.
Ability to collate information for management to use to inform and contribute to the development of the service.
Ability to work to a high standard of accuracy in a regulated service.
Ability to learn new processes and procedures to contribute to the effective development of the service.
Ability to work with care when handling important, personal documentation and respect that it is of value to the customer.

Knowledge required

Qualification demonstrating ability in English Language equivalent to GCSE grade C or have one year’s relevant office experience.
An awareness of financial regulations and their purpose.
Awareness that taxi and private hire vehicles, drivers and operators must be licensed, as determined by legislation, and the role this plays in protecting the travelling public.
Awareness that the Council serves a broad community and people with different needs.
Knowledge of the effective use of Microsoft Office and email functionality

Experience required

Experience of processing volumes of financial transactions efficiently and accurately within strict financial regulations.
Experience of dealing with and offering advice to face to face and telephone enquiries relating to a variety of people and organisations.
Experience of dealing calmly but firmly with challenging clients
Experience of working under own initiative taking ownership, solving and responding to problems in line with recognised procedures.
Experience of using Microsoft Office software.
Experience of achieving performance targets and deadlines; prioritising and completing tasks on time.
Able to accurately enter/ retrieve data information from information systems.

Behavioural and other Characteristics required

Committed to continuous improvement.
Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities to ensure up to date knowledge, skills, and continuous professional development
Understand and embrace our values, behaviours and codes of conduct.
Demonstrate patience, resilience and understanding in dealing with the public, outside agencies and internal customers.
Prepared to present a neat and tidy appearance and show commitment to the professional standards of the service.