Vehicle maintenance, entity, finance and main occupation problems have resulted in the two-vehicle restricted licence held by Dukinfield-based Joseph Holdosi, trading as Joe’s Travel, being revoked by Traffic Commissioner (TC) Simon Evans.
Mr Holdosi had been given 21 days in which to produce documentation regarding his maintenance system, tachograph infringements and finances, which could have possibly saved his licence [routeone/Court Report/12 September].
In his decision, the TC said that in the accounts provided in the name of Joe’s Travel Partnership, Nichola Holdosi was listed as a partner in the business, the profits of which were to be assigned 50/50 between her and Mr Holdosi.
His suspicions that there had been a change of entity had been confirmed.
It was clear that the business accounts prepared made no distinction between private hire taxi work and work carried out under the PSV licence.
Consequently, he concluded that he could not establish that the main occupation requirement was presently met. Neither was he satisfied that a business in operation since 2008 should any longer rely on meeting financial standing on monies promised as available, in accordance with the terms of a statutory declaration.
He was concerned that after close to 10 years, an operator should be capable of arranging through its own business activities compliance with the financial requirement. He did not find financial standing to be met.
Two preventive maintenance record sheets were provided for each vehicle. The inspection period recorded in the undertakings was eight weeks. That for one vehicle disclosed a period of over 20 weeks between each inspection.
While the records showed a number of faults needing rectification were recorded and the caption indicating that the vehicle was now in a safe and roadworthy condition, there was no reference to any action taken to rectify those faults. No explanation was provided for this state of affairs.
In respect of the second vehicle, the maintenance interval revealed was 12 weeks; again, no full details of rectification were recorded on the one sheet where faults were set out.
The TC was not satisfied that Mr Holdosi was meeting the requirements to maintain vehicles in fit and serviceable condition, as was also reflected by the prohibition suffered in November 2016.
This was far from being a case where there had been an ignorant change of arrangements and time might be allowed for a new licence to be sought before the existing one ended.
He considered that it was more likely than not that when Mr Holdosi came without the appropriate documents required to the initial hearing that the purpose was to prolong the licence. His repute as an operator had been lost.
