Commercial Licening Officer

Community Safety and Resilience Service covers several key frontline and strategic areas for the Council, including improving public safety, delivering frontline statutory enforcement services, community safety functions and assurance of safe housing in the private rented sector. Vital to this is compliance to public protection and environmental matters across the Borough.

As a Commercial Licensing Officer, you will carry out licensing functions to enable the Council to meet its statutory obligations, in respect of licensing act, gambling act, markets and street trading and other commercial licensing including inspection, enforcement, education and advise. You will have effective leadership, interpersonal and communication skills.

The Council expects its leaders to show openness, honesty and commitment, and, of course, to deliver results. This post will be expected to work collaboratively across Community Safety & Resilience to deliver the outcomes placed upon the division, ensuring flexibility of approach and a "can do" attitude.

• To play a key role in the design and operational delivery of a wide range of Licensing focused initiatives; which deliver positive community safety outcomes on behalf of the citizens, stakeholders and partner organisations and implement and enforce appropriate legislation in order to establish and maintain a fair and safe trading environment.
• Post-holders will be required to respond to service requests, carry out routine inspections and conduct detailed investigations in order to address breaches of the relevant legislative framework and contribute towards the effectively delivery of the Council’s Licensing policy.

• To play a key role in the design and operational delivery of a wide range of Licensing focused initiatives; which deliver positive community safety outcomes on behalf of the citizens, stakeholders and partner organisations.
• To carry out a broad range of duties in accordance with the Licensing Act 2003 and associated and other applicable legislation/statutory guidance, delivering a best practice based approach which contributes towards the relevant service targets and policy aspirations.
• To act as an authorised officer for specified legislation and undertake inspections, visits and regulatory activity to ensure compliance with all relevant Licensing, gambling and consumer protection related legislation.
• To investigate licensing and gambling related complaints and deliver proactive and preventative activity designed to improve levels of statutory compliance within the borough.
• To manage a caseload of licensing compliance related matters and liaise extensively with the relevant Responsible Authorities, Licensees, Legal Professionals and other Community Safety colleagues (and others as applicable) to deliver effective outcomes which align with the relevant policies, procedures and Community Safety service plans.
• To produce licence review documents/representations, give evidence to the Licensing Sub Committee and local Magistrates courts and promote the licensing objectives in line with the Council licensing policy.
• To provide advice and information to the public, local businesses, Members, other Council Officers, and external public bodies or officials with regard to all activities carried out by the Licensing Service.
• To be responsible for the assessment of the technical suitability of premises where appropriate in respect of a range of activities to ensure compliance with relevant legislation, rules of management, codes of practice and guidance.
• To assess representations received under the Licensing Act 2003, Gambling Act 2005, London Local Authorities Act 1990 and the Highways Act 1980 to ensure they are relevant.
• To assist with mediation in suitable cases. This will be a large part of the daily workload and includes meetings, examination and evaluation of plans, preparation and authorisation of letters, licences and Committee reports, identification of contraventions, enforcement reports, statements and the maintenance of records.
• To respond to enquiries and provide advice on licensing matters to the public, Councillors, Members of Parliament and others. Attend and provide advice to Committee meetings.
• The postholder will at all times carry out the duties of the post with due regard to the Council’s Equal Opportunities Policy.
• The postholder may be required to meet the needs of the council during times of civil emergency.
• Work flexibly in undertaking the duties and responsibilities of the post as directed by the Commercial Licensing Manager, the post holder will also be required to work outside of normal hours, including attending evening meetings, evening operations, visits and inspections and regular weekend and evening working.
• Take responsibility, relevant to the post, for ensuring that Council statutes and government legislation are upheld. This includes, amongst others;
  Management Compliance Charter, Environmental Policy, Data Protection Act, Race…