A bus operator which failed to auto enrol its staff into a company pension scheme has had its operator’s licence cut from 40 to 31 vehicles indefinitely.
Traffic Commissioner (TC) for the North West of England, Simon Evans, said Stotts Tours (Oldham) Ltd ‘manifestly brought its good repute into doubt’ after Director Alan Stott admitted he had ‘buried his head in the sand’ about pensions requirements.
The operator was the first company to be prosecuted by the Pensions Regulator for failing to comply with the law on workplace pensions. The TC expressed his disappointment that as the regulator of the bus industry, it was an operator in this sector who had ‘so clearly failed in its duty.’
“That Stotts became the first company to be prosecuted casts a shadow on the industry,” he said. “My dismay is compounded because this case goes beyond a simple failure to comply with the law – since staff of companies such as Stotts are the very people whose interests an operator ought to be guarding and through the provision of pension schemes investing in their future.”
The company was called to a public inquiry before the TC on April 27, 2018. Alan Stott said he had failed to discuss workplace pensions with his co-directors.
Evidence provided to the TC showed the business now had a pension scheme in place, staff had been auto-enrolled and back payments of employer contributions had been made.
Mr Evans also heard about other changes the business had made and intended to put in place from August. He also made note of the company’s positive record of operating vehicles on the road with regard to safety standards.
The Traffic Commissioner ordered the company’s licence to be reduced from 40 to 31 vehicles indefinitely and recorded a formal warning on its transport licence. A number of undertakings were agreed relating to the appointment of a new transport manager, financial standing and the payment of fines.
He also said the repute of the firm’s Transport Manager, Alan Stott junior, was tarnished.
