I would like to know: - The number of CPOS operational officers currently holding an active MHC or PHV driver/vehicle/operator license. - The justification for holding such a license, explaining why it is not a conflict of interest. - The number of CPOS assistant operational managers currently holding an active MHC or PHV driver/vehicle/operator license. - The justification for holding such a license, explaining why it is not a conflict of interest. - The number of other "authorised TPHC officers" currently holding an active MHC or PHV driver/vehicle/operator license. - The justification for holding such a license, explaining why it is not a conflict of interest.

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TfL Ref: FOI-1849-2021

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 14^th December 2020 asking for information about compliance officers holding an active MHC / PHV license.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold the information you require.

Note that all TfL staff are required to inform their manager in writing, as part of their contract, if they have any personal interest that might affect, or could be seen by others to affect, their impartiality in dealing with customers, suppliers, contractors or members of the public or in discharging the responsibilities of their role. This is further highlighted in the TfL Code of Conduct (http://content.tfl.gov.uk/tfl-code-of-conduct.pdf), which states:

“Employees of TfL have a duty to declare any private interests relating to their public duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest. Any conflict must be notified in writing to TfL and updated as appropriate.”

Turning to your specific questions, these are answered in turn below:

Question 1: The number of CPOS operational officers currently holding an active MHC or PHV driver/vehicle/operator license.

Question 2: The justification for holding such a license, explaining why it is not a conflict of interest.

Answer: All staff working within the vehicles functional area and trained to carry out taxi and private hire compliance checks are required to declare whether they have an active Taxi or Private Hire licence and, if so, to surrender their licences while they are working on activities within this functional area. We will carry out random checks to determine whether any staff have active licences. We have five CPOS Operational officers in total that hold active MHC or PHV driver/vehicle/operator licenses. One of these Operational officers is trained and authorised to carry out taxi and private hire compliance checks. However, their MHC Licence was surrendered to TfL for safekeeping while they are employed in this role, thereby avoiding any conflict of interest. The other four Operational Officers that hold active PHV driver Licenses are not authorised or trained to carry out taxi and PHV compliance checks as it is not part of the current activities within the functional area that they currently work in. Therefore we do not believe there is a conflict of interest.

Question 3: The number of CPOS assistant operational managers currently holding an active MHC or PHV driver/vehicle/operator license.

Question 4: The justification for holding such a license, explaining why it is not a conflict of interest.

Answer: We have one Assistant Operations Manager that holds an active MHC driver licence. They are trained and authorised to carry out taxi and private hire compliance checks. However, their Licence was surrendered to TfL for safekeeping while they are employed in this role. Therefore we do not believe this is a conflict of interest.

Question 5: The number of other "authorised TPHC officers" currently holding an active MHC or PHV driver/vehicle/operator license.

Question 6: The justification for holding such a license, explaining why it is not a conflict of interest.

Answer: There are no other authorised TPHC officers currently holidng an active licence.

If this is not the information you are looking for please do not hesitate to contact me.

If you are considering submitting a further FOI request please think carefully about whether the request is essential at this current time, as answering FOI requests will require the use of limited resources and the attention of staff who could be supporting other essential activity. Where requests are made, please note that our response time may be impacted by the current situation.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.

Yours sincerely,

David Wells

FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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