· Honesty and integrity of Hope Valley firm’s director called into question
· False statements in licence application “seriously undermined” company’s position
· Business supplied major events, including at the Grand National, Wimbledon and Ryder Cup
An international museum, event and exhibition contractor has been denied permission to run commercial vehicles after an industry regulator called into question the company director’s honesty and integrity.
Simon Evans, the Deputy Traffic Commissioner for the North West of England, refused to grant Hope Valley based Live Events at Networks3D Ltd an operator’s licence because it failed to provide accurate information to licensing officials.
He added that the company’s handling of the application had “seriously undermined” its position and director Richard Mosley’s conduct had been unbecoming of someone who wished to be named on an operator’s licence.
In a written decision issued after a public inquiry on 12 January, the deputy commissioner remarked: “I cannot be satisfied that this company should be permitted access to the industry at the present time, as I do not have the trust in its guiding mind that is fundamental to making that decision. The integrity and hence trust I can have in Richard Mosley is brought into serious question by my findings.”
The company’s application was called to a public inquiry after Mr Mosley failed to disclose that he had been subject to a disqualification order for three years under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986. The order was made in July 2011.
Mr Mosley also admitted that he had not completed the company’s application form, having signed a blank copy of the document for his staff to fill in the remainder of the paperwork. This had led to a number of false statements being made on the application form. In addition, licensing officials were also given incomplete information on the solvency of a previous business, Networks 3D Ltd.
At the hearing, Mr Mosley insisted there had been no wrongdoing on his part in relation to the director disqualification and that the sole reason for the order had been the scale of a previous company’s loss, which he disputed. However, subsequent evidence revealed he had admitted causing that company, Network Global Limited, to neglect its tax affairs and trade to the detriment of HM Revenue and Customs.
On discussing the solvency of the Networks3D Ltd with licensing officials, Mr Mosley maintained that he was not a director of the company. However, Mr Evans noted that he had offered to surrender the Networks3D Ltd operator’s licence and provided financial evidence in its name as part of the new company’s licence application.
Mr Mosley told the Deputy Commissioner that he had wanted to make a quick application for the new company while he was away on business and left instructions for staff. They were supposed to mail the completed form to him for approval but had not acted on this. He accepted that signing a blank application form for others to complete was wrong.
The regulator concluded the latter decision had been a “grossly reckless act” and said that his denial of any understanding of the circumstances leading to his disqualification as a director was “entirely lacking in honesty, candour and openness”.
He added: “Those who are allowed entry [into operator licensing] must satisfy the Traffic Commissioner of their good repute or fitness. In answering whether I am so satisfied in respect of this application in the light of my findings, I need to be awake to what the public, other operators, and customers and competitors alike would expect of those permitted to join the industry that they will not blemish or undermine its good name, or abuse the privileges it bestows.
“The honesty and integrity of Richard Mosley has been brought into question and his conduct has been unbecoming of a director of a company holding an operator’s licence.”
The company has indicated that it intends to appeal the Deputy Traffic Commissioner’s decision.
