Cowbridge-based AP Travel and its Director and Transport Manager (TM) Gary Priest were disqualified from holding or obtaining a PSV O-Licence for 12 months after its 10-vehicle licence was revoked by Traffic Commissioner (TC) Nick Jones. The TC also disqualified Mr Priest from becoming a TM until he had passed fresh TM examinations.
In November 2015, the licence was revoked and Director Darren L’Aventure was disqualified from holding an O-Licence for 12 months. The revocation was postponed until 3 May 2016 to enable a new application with a new director to be made, with the Deputy Commissioner recording that Mr L’Aventure would play no part in the management of the company. [routeone/Court/15 June 2016].
The company was called before the TC after a DVSA investigation revealed a number of concerns, including a senior employee providing false information. It was also apparent that Mr L’Aventure still had a role.
Traffic Examiner Alexander Bell said that during a school bus check at Cowbridge Comprehensive School, several vehicles were seen with Apec Executive Travel livery. Two drivers, Dorian Chapman and Karl Marsh, were issued with fixed penalty notices for failing to produce evidence of completion of their Driver CPCs.
Mr Marsh told him that he held a management position and managed the day-to-day running of the business along with Mr Chapman. He had last seen Mr Priest at the Cowbridge operating centre two weeks before – Mr Priest initially visited the operating centre every day. He explained that Mr L’Aventure controlled employee wages and provided the fitter with a credit card should he need to purchase vehicle parts following Mr L’Aventure’s prior approval.
He visited the company in April and met Mr Priest who said that bookings were made through Wales-based Apec Executive Travel, of which Mr L’Aventure was a director. The vehicles were rented by AP Travel and John Hoban Travel, of which he was also a director.
He said that it was Mr L’Aventure who had removed the previous director from AP Travel, buying him out of the business before he himself had stepped in as a director.
Mr Priest had said that the company had had a break-in in February when computers were stolen and records torn up and destroyed. He was shown an original signed infringement report in the name of John McMahon. The current day was dated at the front page of the document, yet it was signed on 25 March. When asked if he had just printed and signed the document, Mr Marsh initially said he had not, but subsequently admitted signing it. He also produced false pay slips and lied about losing a licence disc.
In his decision, the TC said that Mr Priest had allowed someone who was known to be dishonest to continue in a management role. That individual had done things with the full authority of Mr Priest. The lack of control and various failures had all been down to Mr Priest not undertaking the continuous and effective management that was required of a TM.
