Job title: Enforcement Officer
Salary: SO1 £34,434 - £36,363, Plus 12.5% Shift Allowance and Weekend Working Allowance
Hours: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Location: Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Service, 225 York Road, Leeds, LS9 7RY
Leeds is a vibrant and progressive city with many people making daily use of thousands of taxi and private hire vehicles, particularly in our thriving night time economy. 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 our driver and vehicle licensing regulations.
The Taxi & Private Hire Licensing service is a regulatory service licensing over 6000 drivers and 5000 Hackney Carriage (taxi) / Private Hire vehicles in Leeds. The Enforcement Officer role is at the front line of the council’s focus on public safety.
The role is regulatory and investigative, with our Principal Enforcement Officers leading a team of Enforcement Officers to investigate complaints about drivers and operators, check compliance of licensed vehicles, and determine their safety. The successful applicants will work closely with licensing officers, with police and other agencies and partners to maintain passenger safety and public confidence. Applicants will need to either possess or acquire an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check, have experience of securing, preserving and presenting evidence in line with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, and will also have a thorough knowledge of the associated legislation to ensure strict adherence to the legal framework.
The role will work in a strict, regulated arena where fairness, accuracy and analysis of information and the presentation of facts is vital in the criminal and civil courts. The successful applicants will be responsible for the successful presentation of cases from complaint to court, and will be required to attend court frequently and be accountable for their investigations.
Applicants will be required to comprehensively and convincingly demonstrate the appropriate level of skills, knowledge and experience.
The role requires shift working on a fortnightly pattern, covering weekdays one week, and weekends and nights the following week.
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 an Enforcement Officer, you will bring to the role:
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Mature and professional approach to promoting the professional standards of the Service
- Experience of enforcing compliance with regulations
- The experience of reporting events in a clear, accurate and concise manner
- Flexible in approach to work within team and with other colleagues
- A willingness to work beyond and outside normal hours
About the role
As our next Enforcement Officer, you’ll be committed to public safety and maintaining high standards within the Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Service. We are looking for a dedicated and diligent Enforcement Officer to join our team. In this role, you will be a frontline representative of the service, responsible for ensuring that licensed drivers, operators and vehicles, comply with licensing regulations. You will play a vital role in safeguarding the public, ensuring vehicles are safe, and maintaining fair practice across the industry. The role is integral to our Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Service, working alongside the licensing and vehicle inspection teams.
What we offer you
We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:
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a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
- membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
- 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 guidance for further advice on completing your application.
If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role, please contact
Richard Perrett, Service Manager Operations and Compliance tel. 0113 078 1576 or email
[email protected]
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s or Adults’ barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.
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 visa route 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. In addition, the Section also has responsibilities for monitoring and checking Council fleet vehicles and contractor vehicles to ensure that they are operating within the Council's fleet management policy in respect of the Social Services and Education ‘Permit’ schemes.
The key objectives of the section are: -
(a) To ensure that the taxi and private hire trade in Leeds is operated in a safe and professional manner, and that the correct standards of safety, comfort and appearance are satisfied by all vehicles, drivers and operators.
(b) To ensure that all vehicles permitted by the Taxi & Private Hire Section are operated in accordance with the Council's conditions and policy.
Responsibilities
- Principal Duties and Responsibilities
- The main purpose of the post is to carry out Inspections and investigations on the street, at 225 York Road, and at Operators premises to ensure that the Key Objectives referred to above are met.
- Pass Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks.
- To Abide by the Taxi & Private Hire Licensing Section Code of Practice for the operation of CCTV Mobile unit and other digital recording devices including the recording and retention of data
- Carrying out on street inspection of vehicles, drivers, ranks and operator premises to ensure compliance with legal requirements and licence conditions.
- Checking licensed vehicles for comfort, general safety and appearance.
- Issuing notices of licence suspensions, vehicle off the road, and other similar documents where appropriate.
- Preparing and submitting relevant reports, evidence, statements etc., following any offence or breach of conditions.
- Providing information to the public on the Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle trade. Investigating and dealing with complaints.
- Conducting local knowledge tests where required.
- Carrying out roadside vehicle general safety Inspections in conjunction with West Yorkshire Police.
- Preparing information for, and attending Court in respect of offences under the Road Traffic Act 1988 and all relative legislation.
- Serving prosecutions and summons to Private Hire/Taxi Operators and Drivers.
- Attending and advising Licensing panel and presenting reports where required.
- Presenting seminars to new drivers and operators covering the rules and regulations of the trade.
- Assisting and advising licensed drivers and operators on all aspects of the legal requirements and conditions which apply to the trade.
- Verifying licence application details and interviewing applicants with regard to all aspects of the application (including previous convictions).
- Checking and monitoring permitted and contracted vehicles and drivers to ensure compliance with Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Specification and Conditions, and where applicable, the Council’s Permit system.
- Preparing information and reports to Legal Services Officers and Departmental Transport Officers in respect of Permitted and Contracted Vehicles.
- As required, any other duties appropriate to the grade.
- To abide by the Council’s Equal Opportunities Policy in the duties of the post and as an employee of the Council.
Qualifications – Full Driving Licence
Essential requirements Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the following essential requirements.
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Ability to write clear and concise Statements and Reports.
- Ability to use computer systems in particular Microsoft Word and Excel.
- Ability to verbally communicate in a clear and precise manner.
- Ability to achieve basic competency levels of vehicle inspections.
- Ability to understand and operate static and mobile camera equipment and CCTV recording devices ranging from digital cameras and body worn devices to full Public Space Surveillance Cameras (PSSC).
- To be able to achieve limited Tester Status.
- Up to date knowledge of Taxi and Private Hire Legislation.
- Up to date knowledge of Motor Vehicle and Construction and Use Regulations.
- Knowledge of Taxi and Private Hire trade.
- To be able to achieve Security Industry Authority (SIA) licence and Level 2 BTEC Award in CCTV Operations(Public Space Surveillance)
- Driving Licence.
- Experience of enforcing compliance with regulations.
- The regular preparation of written Reports/Statements.
- Experience of using computer systems in particular Microsoft Word and Excel.
- Dealing with difficult people and conflict situations. Dealing with the general public in an advisory capacity.
- The experience of reporting events in a clear, accurate and concise manner.
- Experience of team working.
- Willing to abide by the Council’s Equal Opportunities Policy in the duties of the post, and as an employee of the Council.
- Mature and professional approach to promoting the professional standards of the Section.
- Calm and polite under stress.
- Willing to take personal responsibility under and abide by the Council’s Health and Safety policy.
- Ability to implement and adopt change in a positive manner.
- A commitment to provide and develop for clients, high quality services.
- A commitment to the effective working of Legal and Democratic Service and the objectives of Leeds City Council.
- A commitment to own personal development and training.
- An awareness of the sensitive and confidential nature of the work.
- A willingness to work beyond and outside normal hours.
- Flexible in approach to work within team and with other colleagues.
Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics
- Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct
- Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
- Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
- Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing
- Willingness to actively participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills.
- Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
- Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity of Leeds City Council.
- Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
- The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.
Desirable requirements Candidates are not required to meet all the following desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.
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Knowledge of the organisation and functions of local government.
- Experience of using digital recording devices to capture still and moving images.
- Knowledge of current digital video and editing software.
- Working in a multicultural environment.
- Experience of working shifts.
