Licence refused over TC's fears of fronting
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JOAN AITKEN, the traffic commissioner (TC) for Scotland, has refused an 0-licence application from UK Home Delivery, saying she believed it was a front for a revoked operator.
At a November public inquiry in Edinburgh, the TC was given details about the sole director of the Beith-based furniture home delivery business, Karen McGinnity, and her application for three vehicles.
Her brother, John Hunter, had been director of Multidrop UK, a company whose licence was revoked as a result of its liquidation in February 2011.
The liquidation was not declared to the office of the TC at the time.
Hunter was also director of Delivery Depot UK and that firm's 0-licence application was granted at an inquiry in September 2011 subject to conditions.
However, in August 2012, Aitken revoked its licence on the grounds that it had not provided evidence of continuous financial standing.
In her written decision, the TC said: "The critical feature of this case was the apparent involvement of John Hunter, a man who had been involved in previously revoked operators' licences and in circumstances where he did not intimate his material changes in circumstances nor comply with conditions.
"Hunter is not someone who would be able to obtain a goods vehicle 0-licence in his own name or in the company name given his licence history.
"Thus, it appeared that Mrs McGinnity, who was using similar addresses, telephone contact details and such like, might be a front or a 'phoenix' for her brother."
Summing up The TC said that she was not satisfied the application was not a front for John Hunter.