Senior Licensing Officer

Job Title:Senior Licensing Enforcement Officer

Job Purpose

To support the licensing service in discharging the Council’s statutory licensing functions by undertaking the full range of licensing enforcement duties and contributing to the effective and efficient running of the Licensing team.

To support responsible licensed operators by providing advice, education and information on licensing process and best management practice, while protecting the broader community by taking effective enforcement action against irresponsible and illegal operators.

Specific Accountabilities of the Role

The post holder will lead on all licensing enforcement matters and fulfil the licensing responsible authority role by reviewing relevant licence applications and pursuing representation where operating schedules are considered deficient in the circumstances. The postholder will also provide expert advice on licensing enforcement matters to colleagues, partner service agencies, senior officer, and elected members.

In particular:

To undertake comprehensive inspection of licensed premises in accordance with a risk assessed programme, intended to ensure compliance with the licence terms, conditions, and restrictions.

To support licensees, provide high standards of licensed premises management by providing clear, practical advice on compliance, licensing process and practices and relevant best management practices as required.

To gather and investigate intelligence and follow up complaints about breaches of licence terms, conditions, and restrictions.

To take appropriate formal enforcement action, including the issue of statutory notices and/or the institution of legal proceedings where serious breaches of operating terms, conditions or restrictions or illegal activities are evidenced, in accordance with the Council’s Enforcement Policy, service procedures, and relevant codes of practice.

To gather evidence, interview suspects, and compile case reports where formal legal action is proposed and present evidence in court, tribunal, or hearing.

As a licensing responsible authority officer, to review relevant licence applications and submit representations in pursuit of the licensing objectives as necessary, taking part in conciliation process and giving evidence to the Licensing & Regulatory Committee as required.

Provide written report on Licensing enforcement activities and service performance as well as prepare and present committee reports for matters referred to the Licensing & Regulatory Board / Sub Committee

To ensure the maintenance of all electronic and paper records on the service database system to support the administration of the licensing function.

To assist in the management of the financial aspect of administering licensing functions including ensuring the correct fees are levied. Also, where necessary to undertake all enforcement activity in the recovery of unpaid licence fees.

Follow all statutory and professional policies, procedures, and work practices to ensure all activity is provided in a professional, effective and efficient manner to all service users.

To represent the licensing team on licensing matters at corporate, professional, technical and other groups as necessary such the Licensing forums.

To assist in the development and implementation of enforcement strategies and team’s programmes and encourage compliance with licensing standards.

To ensure maintain statutory registers and assist with the timely production of information for statutory returns relating to licensing and other functions.

To respond to all service requests and enquiries such as Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, member’s enquiries and correspondence/monitoring systems and to assist the Service Manager in investigating complaints and incidents in accordance with internal and external protocols.

To lead or assist in managing any assigned projects and promotions, research, and investigations, under the direction of the senior management.

To establish effective working relationships with other Council departments / services, officers and actively develop partnerships and multi-agency working to pursue service objectives, deliver outcomes in accordance with local needs, and ensure services are integrated at the point of delivery.

Maintain up to date knowledge of law enforcement and practice. Also, maintain specialist knowledge of licensing legislation, procedures and practices both sufficient to perform tasks related to the post and provide expert advice to others.

Develop procedures that enable the licensing service to be delivered efficiently and effective way.

To participate in planned operational activities during out of normal working hours as required to meet service demands and emergencies.

To undertake any other duties within the Enforcement services that are compatible with the grading of this post and contingencies of the service.

General Accountabilities and Responsibilities

Provide services that are fair and accessible to all, challenging existing practices that support the traditional culture and promote the Customer First proposition across the Council

Project management

Undertake assigned projects, ensuring that agreed outcomes are delivered on time, within budget and to the expected standard.

Management / Supervisory responsibility for up to 3 members of staff, including recruitment, selection, appraisal, training, development, discipline, motivation etc.in accordance to the Council Policy

Ensure compliance with appropriate legislation, Council Policies, the Council Constitution (including Contract Rules, Financial Regulations and Rules, Employment Procedure Rules, Employees’ Code of Conduct), Information Security Policies, Social Media Policy and other requirements of the Council.

Ensure high standards of records management and assume responsibility for all information assigned to the post.

Promote the development of a high-quality individual need led service, to comply at all times with the Council’s policies and procedures, particularly those regarding Data Protection, Equalities and Diversity and Health and Safety.

Ensure compliance with and actively promote the Council’s Equalities and Diversity policies and strategies and comply with the Equality Act 2010.

Ensure compliance with and actively promote Health and Safety at work legislation, Council and Service H&S policies and procedures.

Comply with the competencies and standard requisites agreed by the Council as relevant to your post.

Comply with the General Data Protection Regulation and Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 2018) (all employees of the Council will not disclose or make use of, for their private advantage, any information held on manual or computer records, which are not available to the public, however acquired).

Take responsibility for continuing self-development and participate in training and development activities.

The above-mentioned duties are neither exclusive nor exhaustive and the postholder may be called upon to carry out such other appropriate duties as may be required by the Line Manager within the grading level of the post and the competence of the postholder.