Agenda item

Local Government (MIscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 - Street Trading Policy Approval

Minutes:

5.1

The Committee received a report of the Chief Licensing Officer regarding the approval of a revised Street Trading Policy.

 

 

5.2

Shimla Rani, Principal Licensing Officer, informed Members that the revised Policy would make amendments to fees and forms, as well as the procedures and protocols around the consultation process when a Street Trading Consent was applied for, in order to simplify the current process, which had become very complicated.

 

 

5.3

In attendance for this item was Martin Judge, a local street trading consent holder.

 

 

5.4

Mr. Judge commented that he felt there was not enough support from the Licensing Authority in attending football matches in order to prosecute unlicensed traders. Ms. Rani replied that Licensing Officers did attend matches on a rota system and that all reports of unlicensed traders were investigated fully. She added that there was other enforcement which needed doing across the City, which was why not every match could always be attended by Officers.

 

 

5.5

Mr. Judge went on to explain that unlicensed traders often arrived very early to reserve certain key trading pitches at football games, and there was no-one available for legitimate traders to report this to in time for the match.

 

 

5.6

In terms of the fees charged to process consents, Ms. Rani explained that the Council only charged enough to cover costs; it was not a profit making business. It was confirmed that for each event a street trading consent was applied for, there were a series of steps and checks with various authorities which had to be undertaken by the Licensing Authority. 

 

 

5.7

Mr. Judge stated that it was often difficult to obtain 28 days clear notice for a one day event, as he might not find out about an event with that much notice, and Ms. Rani confirmed that there was some flexibility in the system, although this could not be guaranteed.

 

 

5.8

RESOLVED: That the alterations to the Street Trading Policy, forms and fees contained within the report now submitted be accepted with the following additions:-

 

(a) the Licensing Authority gives a commitment that all one day consents will be determined within a maximum of 28 days; and

 

(b) an 800 metre radius on plans for fixed positioned (Static Street Trading) applications, instead of a one mile radius, be enforced.