Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act 1995

Determination of applications E+W+S

13 Determination of applications for operators’ licences. E+W+S

(1) Subject to sections 11 and 45(2), on an application for a standard licence a traffic commissioner shall consider—

(a) whether the requirements of subsections (3) and (5) are satisfied, and

(b) if he thinks fit, whether the requirements of subsection (6) are satisfied.

(2) Subject to sections 11 and 45(2), on an application for a restricted licence a traffic commissioner shall consider—

(a) whether the requirements of subsections (4) and (5) are satisfied, and

(b) if he thinks fit, whether the requirements of subsection (6) are satisfied.

(3) For the requirements of this subsection to be satisfied the traffic commissioner must be satisfied that the applicant fulfils the following requirements, namely—

(a) that he is of good repute,

(b) that he is of the appropriate financial standing, and

(c) that he is professionally competent;

and the traffic commissioner shall determine whether or not that is the case in accordance with Schedule 3.

(4) For the requirements of this subsection to be satisfied the applicant must not be unfit to hold an operator’s licence by reason of—

(a) any activities or convictions of which particulars may be required to be given under section 8(4) by virtue of paragraph 1(e) or (f) of Schedule 2, or

(b) any conviction required to be notified in accordance with section 9(1).

(5) For the requirements of this subsection to be satisfied it must be possible (taking into account the traffic commissioner’s powers under section 15(3) to issue a licence in terms that differ from those applied for) to issue a licence on the application in relation to which paragraphs (a) to (e) will apply—

(a) there are satisfactory arrangements for securing that—

(i) Part VI of the M1 Transport Act 1968 (drivers’ hours), and

(ii) the applicable Community rules, within the meaning of that Part,

are complied with in the case of the vehicles used under the licence;

(b) there are satisfactory arrangements for securing that the vehicles used under the licence are not overloaded;

(c) there are satisfactory facilities and arrangements for maintaining the vehicles used under the licence in a fit and serviceable condition;

(d) at least one place in the traffic commissioner’s area is specified in the licence as an operating centre of the licence-holder, and each place so specified is available and suitable for use as such an operating centre (disregarding any respect in which it may be unsuitable on environmental grounds);

(e) the capacity of the place so specified (if there is only one) or of both or all the places so specified taken together (if there are more than one) is sufficient to provide an operating centre for all the vehicles used under the licence.

(6) For the requirements of this subsection to be satisfied the provision of such facilities and arrangements as are mentioned in subsection (5)(c) must not be prejudiced by reason of the applicant’s having insufficient financial resources for that purpose.

(7) In considering whether any of the requirements of subsections (3) to (6) are satisfied, the traffic commissioner shall have regard to any objection duly made under section 12(1)(a) in respect of the application.

(8) In considering whether the requirements of subsection (5) are satisfied, the traffic commissioner may take into account any undertakings given by the applicant (or procured by him to be given) for the purposes of the application, and may assume that those undertakings will be fulfilled.

(9) In considering whether subsection (5)(d) will apply in relation to a licence, the traffic commissioner may take into account any conditions that could be attached to the licence under section 21, and may assume that any conditions so attached will not be contravened.

(10) In considering whether subsection (5)(d) or (e) will apply in relation to a licence, the traffic commissioner may take into account (if that is the case) that any proposed operating centre of the applicant would be used—

(a) as an operating centre of the holders of other operators’ licences as well as of the applicant; or

(b) by the applicant or by other persons for purposes other than keeping vehicles used under the licence.

(11) If the traffic commissioner determines that any of the requirements that he has taken into consideration in accordance with subsection (1) or (2) are not satisfied he shall refuse the application, but in any other case he shall, subject to sections 14 and 45(2), grant the application.

Annotations:

Annotations are used to give authority for changes and other effects on the legislation you are viewing and to convey editorial information. They appear at the foot of the relevant provision or under the associated heading. Annotations are categorised by annotation type, such as F-notes for textual amendments and I-notes for commencement information (a full list can be found in the Editorial Practice Guide). Each annotation is identified by a sequential reference number. For F-notes, M-notes and X-notes, the number also appears in bold superscript at the relevant location in the text. All annotations contain links to the affecting legislation.

Marginal Citations

M1 1968 c. 73.

14 Determinations where objections etc are made on environmental grounds. E+W+S

(1) This section applies to any application for an operator’s licence in respect of which—

(a) any objection is duly made under section 12(1)(b), or

(b) any representations are duly made under section 12(4).

(2) A traffic commissioner may refuse an application to which this section applies on the ground that, as respects any place in his area which, if the licence were issued, would be an operating centre of the holder of the licence—

(a) the parking of vehicles used under the licence at or in the vicinity of the place in question would cause adverse effects on environmental conditions in the vicinity of that place; or

(b) the place in question would be unsuitable for use as an operating centre of the holder of the licence on other environmental grounds.

(3) The traffic commissioner may not refuse an application for an operator’s licence on the ground that any place would be unsuitable as mentioned in subsection (2)(b) if—

(a) on the date the application was made, that place was already specified in an operator’s licence issued by the commissioner as an operating centre of the holder of that licence, or

(b) the applicant has produced to the commissioner a certificate in force in respect of that place under—

(i) section 191 or 192 of the M2 Town and Country Planning Act 1990, or

[F1 (ii) section 150 or 151 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997;]

stating that its use as an operating centre for vehicles used under any operator’s licence is or would be lawful.

(4) Subsection (3) does not apply in relation to any place that, at the time the application is determined by the traffic commissioner, is specified in an operator’s licence as an operating centre of the holder of that licence.

(5) A place is not to be regarded for the purposes of paragraph (a) of subsection (3) as being specified in an operator’s licence by reason only that it forms part of a place so specified; and a place that was, on the date mentioned in that paragraph, a place specified in an operator’s licence as mentioned in that paragraph shall be disregarded for the purposes of that paragraph if, on that date—

(a) the operator’s licence in which that place was specified was an interim licence issued under section 24; or

(b) that place was so specified by virtue of an interim direction such as is mentioned in section 25; or

(c) such conditions relating to—

(i) the exercise of the right of any person to appeal against a place being specified in an operator’s licence, or

(ii) the review under section 36 of any decision so to specify a place,

as may be prescribed were not satisfied in relation to that place.

(6) Where in the case of any application for an operator’s licence—

(a) the traffic commissioner has power to refuse the application under subsection (2), and

(b) any place other than a place that will be unsuitable for use as an operating centre is mentioned in the statement given by the applicant under section 8(3) as a proposed operating centre of his,

the commissioner may, instead of refusing the application, issue the licence but specify in it only such place or such places mentioned in that statement as will not be unsuitable for use as an operating centre.

(7) For the purposes of subsection (6), a place will be unsuitable for use as an operating centre if the traffic commissioner has power to refuse the application under subsection (2) in consequence of the proposed use of that place as an operating centre.

Annotations:

Annotations are used to give authority for changes and other effects on the legislation you are viewing and to convey editorial information. They appear at the foot of the relevant provision or under the associated heading. Annotations are categorised by annotation type, such as F-notes for textual amendments and I-notes for commencement information (a full list can be found in the Editorial Practice Guide). Each annotation is identified by a sequential reference number. For F-notes, M-notes and X-notes, the number also appears in bold superscript at the relevant location in the text. All annotations contain links to the affecting legislation.

Amendments (Textual)

F1 S. 14(3)(b)(ii) substituted (27.5.1997) by 1997 c. 11, ss. 4, 6(2), Sch. 2 para. 59(2)

Marginal Citations

M2 1990 c. 8.

15 Issue of operators’ licences. E+W+S

(1) Subject to subsection (2) and to sections 14(6), 21, 22, 23 and 45(2), on granting an application for an operator’s licence a traffic commissioner shall issue that licence in the terms applied for.

(2) If a traffic commissioner has determined that any of the requirements of subsection (5) or (6) of section 13 that he has taken into consideration in accordance with subsection (1) or (as the case may be) (2) of that section would not be satisfied unless he were to exercise any of his powers under subsection (3) below, he shall exercise those powers accordingly.

(3) A traffic commissioner may issue the licence in terms that differ from the terms applied for in any of the following respects—

(a) more or fewer motor vehicles are specified in the licence;

(b) different motor vehicles are specified in it;

(c) it includes a provision such as is mentioned in section 5(2);

(d) it includes a provision such as is mentioned in section 6(1)(b) or (2)(b);

(e) higher or lower maximum numbers are specified in it under section 6;

(f) fewer places are specified in it as operating centres of the licence-holder.

(4) Any undertakings taken into account by the traffic commissioner under section 13(8) that he considers to be material to the granting of the application shall be recorded in the licence issued.

(5) A statement shall appear on the face of every operator’s licence indicating whether it is a standard licence or a restricted licence.

(6) A statement shall appear on the face of every standard licence indicating whether it covers both national and international transport operations or national transport operations only.

16 Duration of operators’ licences. E+W+S

(1) The date on which an operator’s licence is to come into force shall be specified in the licence.

(2) Subject to its revocation or other termination under any provision of this Act or any other statutory provision, an operator’s licence (other than an interim licence issued under section 24) shall continue in force indefinitely.

(3) If the holder of an operator’s licence requests the traffic commissioner by whom it was issued to terminate it at any time, the commissioner shall, subject to subsection (4), comply with the request.

(4) The traffic commissioner may refuse to comply with the request if he is considering giving a direction in respect of the licence under section 26 or 27.

(5) An operator’s licence held by an individual terminates if he dies, if he becomes a patient within the meaning of Part VII of the M3 Mental Health Act 1983, or if (in Scotland) a curator bonis is appointed in respect of him on the ground that he is incapable, by reason of mental disorder, of adequately managing and administering his property and affairs.

Annotations:

Annotations are used to give authority for changes and other effects on the legislation you are viewing and to convey editorial information. They appear at the foot of the relevant provision or under the associated heading. Annotations are categorised by annotation type, such as F-notes for textual amendments and I-notes for commencement information (a full list can be found in the Editorial Practice Guide). Each annotation is identified by a sequential reference number. For F-notes, M-notes and X-notes, the number also appears in bold superscript at the relevant location in the text. All annotations contain links to the affecting legislation.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 16(2) restricted (1.1.1996) by S.I. 1995/2181, art. 3, Sch. paras. 2(4), 3(4)

Marginal Citations

M3 1983 c. 20.