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Are Operator Licence Application Processing Times Improving?
We know all too well the time it takes for your operator licence to be granted or varied can be very frustrating. So how long on average does it take for an application to be processed? And are processing times improving?
The below table illustrates the improvement year on year for processing times of goods applications and PSV applications. You can see on average there has been a reduction of nearly 2 working days for goods applications with no public inquiry and a reduction in just over 17 working days for PSV applications with no public inquiry.
The below table illustrates the improvement year on year for processing times of goods applications and PSV applications. You can see on average there has been a reduction of nearly 2 working days for goods applications with no public inquiry and a reduction in just over 17 working days for PSV applications with no public inquiry.
Period |
Goods Applications (no PI) |
Goods Applications (with PI) |
PSV Applications (no PI) |
PSV Applications (with PI) |
July 2018 - June 2019 |
39.88 working days |
140.08 working days |
68.13 working days |
152.94 working days |
July 2019 - June 2020 |
38.01 working days |
136.84 working days |
50.52 working days |
141.66 working days |
The above figures are taken from data recorded by the Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain and it is clear from their Annual Report to the Secretary of State 2019-2020 commissioners take the issue of processing times very seriously. For example, the report states, “at the very least service users require swift and efficient processing of applications” and commissioners are “aware of some cases where applications were going un-processed for months”. This is further supported by the target commissioners have set to reduce application processing times for new licences and variations to existing licences to an average of 35 working days by 31 March 2021.
The report gives some credit for the success in reducing processing times to the initial referral of all open applications older than 6 months to a commissioner on a monthly basis for review. This approach now applies to all open applications older than 4 months, and in the future, there is hope this approach will be followed for applications older than 3 months. Given that COVID-19 may have slowed down processing times, operators may have to wait longer for their applications to be determined.
Although the time it takes for your application to be processed is something to bear in mind, it is also important to recognise if an application is not filled in correctly this can result in even longer delays. This is where Dyne Solicitors Ltd can help you.
We can help you to complete and submit an operator licence application. We appreciate this may sound relatively straight forward but the application form is full of potential pitfalls and it is better to have the support of an experienced solicitor who understands what might cause an application to be refused or lead to it being called to a Public Inquiry.
Click here to visit our website and read more about operator licencing applications.
The report gives some credit for the success in reducing processing times to the initial referral of all open applications older than 6 months to a commissioner on a monthly basis for review. This approach now applies to all open applications older than 4 months, and in the future, there is hope this approach will be followed for applications older than 3 months. Given that COVID-19 may have slowed down processing times, operators may have to wait longer for their applications to be determined.
Although the time it takes for your application to be processed is something to bear in mind, it is also important to recognise if an application is not filled in correctly this can result in even longer delays. This is where Dyne Solicitors Ltd can help you.
We can help you to complete and submit an operator licence application. We appreciate this may sound relatively straight forward but the application form is full of potential pitfalls and it is better to have the support of an experienced solicitor who understands what might cause an application to be refused or lead to it being called to a Public Inquiry.
Click here to visit our website and read more about operator licencing applications.
In November 2019, we launched this innovative offering for clients seeking access to advice for an agreed annual fee.
This is an alternative to our standard retainer system and offers clients an opportunity to obtain advice where the cost is pre-determined for the whole year. This arrangement would suit clients who may from time to time need to seek legal advice but may hold off preferring a ‘wait and see’ approach.
In our experience, early intervention can reduce the risk of the situation escalating as we can give advice and guidance that nips regulatory issues in the bud before they develop into something far worse. We also strongly recommend our clients consider taking out legal expenses insurance to cover investigations and prosecutions brought by regulators.
DyneProtect© has teamed up with Butcher & Barlow solicitors to provide DyneProtect© clients access to a specialist team of corporate and commercial lawyers for up to 1 hours’ worth of free telephone advice/legal consultation.
Butcher & Barlow have a dedicated commercial and agricultural hub on Gadbrook Park in Northwich which provides advice and assistance to a host of business clients in specialist areas such as Corporate and Commercial Law, Commercial Property, Private Client and Agriculture.
If you have a corporate or commercial issue which Dyne Solicitors is unable to handle, then Butcher & Barlow’s Commercial team will certainly be able to step in and assist.
DyneProtect© has also negotiated price reductions on OLAT / Driver CPC courses run by training providers KP Legal Limited who are offering discounts to DyneProtect© clients on Operator Licensing Awareness / Compliance training (-20%) and Periodic Driver CPC training (-10%).
This is an alternative to our standard retainer system and offers clients an opportunity to obtain advice where the cost is pre-determined for the whole year. This arrangement would suit clients who may from time to time need to seek legal advice but may hold off preferring a ‘wait and see’ approach.
In our experience, early intervention can reduce the risk of the situation escalating as we can give advice and guidance that nips regulatory issues in the bud before they develop into something far worse. We also strongly recommend our clients consider taking out legal expenses insurance to cover investigations and prosecutions brought by regulators.
DyneProtect© has teamed up with Butcher & Barlow solicitors to provide DyneProtect© clients access to a specialist team of corporate and commercial lawyers for up to 1 hours’ worth of free telephone advice/legal consultation.
Butcher & Barlow have a dedicated commercial and agricultural hub on Gadbrook Park in Northwich which provides advice and assistance to a host of business clients in specialist areas such as Corporate and Commercial Law, Commercial Property, Private Client and Agriculture.
If you have a corporate or commercial issue which Dyne Solicitors is unable to handle, then Butcher & Barlow’s Commercial team will certainly be able to step in and assist.
DyneProtect© has also negotiated price reductions on OLAT / Driver CPC courses run by training providers KP Legal Limited who are offering discounts to DyneProtect© clients on Operator Licensing Awareness / Compliance training (-20%) and Periodic Driver CPC training (-10%).
