Haroon Shamim, one of a number of Bolton-based family members who had their restricted licences revoked in July by Deputy Traffic Commissioner (DTC) Simon Evans (routeONE, Court Report, 3 August 2016), has succeeded in his bid for a three-vehicle national licence.
The DTC adjourned the case in November after he felt not enough time had passed since the revocation of the previous licence, and to give Mr Shamim a further opportunity to show he had regained his repute through the passage of time and the action he had taken.
For Mr Shamim, Simon Newman said the application had been made after the April 2016 Public Inquiry (PI) but before the DTC’s decision in July. Following the revocation Mr Shamim had closed his transport operation and surrendered his contracts. He then worked as a driver for Schools Direct. He had undertaken an O-Licence awareness course in August.
Although he initially failed his Transport Manager’s CPC exam, he passed the multiple-choice part at the end of January. He was booked on a five-day training course in preparation for re-taking the case-study exam at the beginning of March. He had taken advice from a transport consultant. The business plan is solely to undertake school contract work, without any private hire.
The DTC said one of the principle reasons for the loss of the previous licence on grounds of repute was breaches of the main occupation rule. That was aggravated by the fact that Mr Shamim left his job almost immediately his restricted licence was granted.
That was a blatant failure, as Mr Shamim knew about the rules but took no notice and continued to operate.
Mr Shamim said he now realised he should not have done what he did. He had since obtained knowledge and understanding which he had not had previously. It would not happen again if he was granted a new licence.
After the DTC said that another issue was the absence of paperwork, Mr Shamim said that all records would be kept if the licence was granted.
Prospective Transport Manager Andrew Goodier said that Mr Shamim would not be doing it on his own, as he would have his full support.
Granting the licence with an undertaking that there be an independent audit in November, the DTC said that “six months of water had gone under the bridge since the revocation.”
He added that it was a modest application to carry out a similar business to that inappropriately carried out under the restricted licence. He felt that the steps taken were appropriate and proactive.
