Agenda item - Street Trading Policy

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Agenda item

Street Trading Policy

Report of the Director of Environment (copy attached).

Decision:

RESOLVED – That the street trading policy as set out in appendix 1 is agreed.

Minutes:

15.1    The Committee considered a report from the Director of Environment regarding the Street Trading Policy (for a copy see minute book).

 

15.2    The Licensing Manager, Ms Cranford, began by stating that the updated policy made conditions for street trading more transparent and enforceable. At the April 2009 meeting of the Licensing Committee officers were asked to undertake further consultation. Dorothy Stringer School had asked for an exclusion zone in June 2004 but this had not been approved as there was a concern it could affect the livelihoods of individuals.

 

15.3    Councillor Kitcat asked why the 100 metre restrictions on street traders selling similar items had been removed. Ms Cranford replied that this was no longer relevant as the types of items street traders sold could now also be bought in shops and there were no exclusions on this.

 

15.4    Councillor Kitcat stated that he could not support the suggestion by Dorothy Springer to impose exclusion zones on street traders around schools. He added that healthy eating was a good idea to promote but believed that this could best be achieved via education and not licensing powers to exclude where street traders could trade. He was concerned that this might have unintended consequences on other traders if pursued. Ms Cranford stated that the Health Eating Team at the Council could discuss options with street traders where appropriate.

 

15.5    Councillor Older asked whether Chestnut sellers were restricted to certain areas and whether a trader needed a licence to sell goods in front of their shop. Mr Nichols replied that the consent streets were the only places where this activity was allowed. Front of shops were exempt from street trading policies as they were technically deemed a part of the shop and the authority would have to prove beyond all reasonable doubt that the trader was trading illegally.

 

15.6    Councillor Simson asked about the waiting list for trading sites and Mr Nichols replied that it was very static. Most people on the list were waiting for specific sites to become available, but it was difficult for officers to assess which sites would be desirable as this was usually down to personal circumstances. There was a natural wastage of sites as they were not taken up by those on the waiting list.

 

15.7    Councillor Lepper stated that Dorothy Stringer School owned Stringer Way and it would be their responsibility to enforce any internal school policies. Mr Nichols agreed that this was correct.

 

15.8    RESOLVED – That the street trading policy as set out in appendix 1 is agreed.

Supporting documents:

 


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