Licensing Officer

About Us

North Somerset Council is committed to providing high-quality services to our community. We are committed to creating a fair, green, and more inclusive environment for all our residents. Join us and contribute to making a positive impact on our community.

The Role

We are seeking a dedicated and experienced Licensing Officer to join our Licensing Service. The Licensing Team are responsible for administration, compliance monitoring and enforcement of a variety of licensing regimes including taxis, alcohol & entertainment, gambling, street trading and street cafes.

Key Responsibilities:

• Establishing and maintaining links between licence holders, businesses and the public.
• Giving advice to applicants about technical standards and processes.
• Physical inspection of vehicles, subsequent issue of legal notices.
• Preparing files, committee reports and court files for use in enforcement processes.
• Attendance and presentation at Licensing and court hearings.
• Organisation of Council led enforcement activities and exercises.
• Multi-agency working and joint enforcement.
• Investigation and response to complaints and safeguarding matters.

Valid driving licence and own transport, or be able to provide alternative, suitable method of travel is an essential condition for this role.

Work Style

At North Somerset Council, we offer a hybrid working environment based on four distinct work styles. Depending on the role and personal circumstances, you will fall into one of these categories. However, please note that during the induction period, it may be necessary to spend more time in the office to support your learning and development. We are flexible and open to discussions about your preferred working style, and if you wish to be in the office more frequently, this can be negotiated.

This role falls into the category of Flexible Worker which means you can expect to work in the following way:

Flexible Worker

• 2-3 days in the office
• Works both from home and the office, depending on the task at hand.
• Training is provided to help balance work-life and manage time effectively, with an emphasis on communication for team touchpoints and planning in-office days for collaboration.

There may be requirement to work out-of-hours by arrangement.

About You

We are looking for an individual who is passionate about all areas of local authority licensing and who possesses the following skills and experience:

In this role, you will need to have a good working knowledge of the various licensing regimes. We are looking for an officer to specialise in the assessment, compliance monitoring and enforcement of a range of taxi licences so experience in this area is essential.

You will have a proven track record in enforcement, experience of legal processes and file preparation together with the ability to manage a proactive inspection caseload alongside reactive enforcement as necessary.

Essential Criteria:

• A good working knowledge of the various licensing regimes. We are looking for an officer to specialise in the assessment, compliance monitoring and enforcement of a range of taxi licences, but the post holder can be expected to support other licensing service activities as required.
• An understanding of licensing legislation, local and national policies and standards.
• A recognised licensing qualification (Professional Licence Practitioners Qualification) or similar relevant licensing and enforcement experience.
• Proven track record of investigation, complaint resolution and enforcement.
• Proven experience of organising and attending both licensing enforcement and compliance checking activities.
• Communicating effectively with colleagues and customers, both verbally and in writing through the appropriate use of case or site notes and other records within information sharing protocols and record keeping policies.

Desirable Criteria:

• Disclosure Barring Service – countersignatory
• Experience of case management systems such as CIVICA APP
• Experience of using online portals to carry out and record vetting checks

What We Offer

At North Somerset Council, we value our employees and provide a supportive and inclusive work environment. We offer:

• Competitive salary and benefits
• Flexible working arrangements
• Local Government Pension
• Opportunities for professional development
• Inclusive Staff groups including Carers, Disabled, LGBTQ+, REACH (Race, Ethnicity, and Cultural Heritage), and Young Staff Forums
• Opportunity to purchase up to an additional 10 days annual leave each year
• Dedicated in house Wellbeing Team
• Salary sacrifice Cycle to Work and Electric Vehicle schemes

Further details of our excellent rewards package can be found in our Benefits booklet.

How to Apply

If you share our vision and valuesand are ready to make an impact to North Somerset, please select the apply online button below. If you are interested in this exciting opportunity, please submit your application by 11.59pm on the application closing date. When completing our online application form, please detail how you meet the essential criteria for the role.

Contact Information

For further information about the role, please contact Sioux Isherwood, Licensing Service Lead at Sioux.isherwood@n-somerset.gov.uk.

Important Information

As a Disability Confident Leader, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job role.

Interview Date: Tuesday 10th March 2026

Please note: We are currently only able to accept applications from candidates who have full permission to work in the UK and are unable to provide Sponsorship for this role.

Equal Opportunities

At North Somerset Council we want all our employees to feel valued and appreciated. We aim to ensure equality of opportunity and prevent discrimination irrespective of your sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion or belief, race, age, disability, including neurodiversity, if you are married or in a civil partnership or are pregnant or currently on maternity leave. We strive to create a workplace that reflects the communities we serve and where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

We reserve the right to close this advertisement early or extend the closing date depending on the number of applications received.