Licence restored
Page 16
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AN ESSEX international haulier, who last year lost his licence on grounds of finance and repute following conviction for excise licence offences has succeeded in a bid for a new licence before Eastern Deputy Licensing Authority Charles Arnold-Baker.
Mervin King, trading as M and C Transport of Cressing, was seeking a licence for 12 vehicles and trailers.
His previous licence was revoked by Eastern LA Kenneth Peter last August (CM, August 25, 1984).
That decision was upheld by the Transport Tribunal on appeal, which directed that Mr King cease operating on December 17 (CM, December 8 1984).
Mr Arnold-Baker had the assistance of a financial assessor in considering the new application.
Mr Arnold-Baker said that at the time of the revocation, Mr King had preferential debts of £31,000 in money owned to the Inland Revenue plus unpaid fines and back duty. Pay-asyou-earn debts were just over £16,000.
Mr King said that monthly payments requested by the Inland Revneue for December and January had not been paid, but he had sold a vehicle for £10,000 and £8,000 would be paid to the Inland Revenue later that day.
Unpaid fines and back duty had totalled around £15,000. Some of the amounts had been reduced on appeal on the grounds that the vehicles had been out of the country for months at a time. He maintained that almost all the fines and back duty had been paid off. He was unable to produce receipts, but he produced account books showing that £11,000 had been paid.
Mr King said he had been convicted of using a vehicle without an excise licence at Chippenham in his absence at the beginning of January. He had not yet been notified of the penalty.
There was also an outstanding appeal at Ipswich Crown Court involving fines and back duty of £1,906. No offences had been committed since the last public inquiry.
He had an overdraft facility of £40,000, secured by property which included the house belonging to his ex-wife. He had to release the latter charge in about 12 months time and he was considering forming a limited company with the bank taking a charge against its assets.
Chartered accountant William Lucking said figures to December 1984 showed a substantial turn round in the business. Mr King had taken considerable steps to meet his liabilities, particularly those to the State.
The business was solvent in accounting terms.
The bank was continuing its support and he believed there was sufficient cash flow to maintain the business.
The asset/liability ratio had improved by £16,800 since June 1984. The only fines and back duties still outstanding were subject to appeal.
Granting a licence for a ninemonth period only, Mr ArnoldBaker said the business now appeared to be viable. He felt Mr King had redeemed his repute.