Agenda item - Review of Street Trading

Report of the Head of Planning and Public Protection (copy attached)

6.1         The Committee considered a report of the Head of Environmental Health and Licensing in relation to a review of the Council’s Street Trading Policy.

6.2         The Head of Environmental Health and Licensing explained that the Council’s Street Trading Policy had last been reviewed following consultation and had been agreed b y the Licensing Committee on 26 November 2009. There were streets in the city in which street trading was prohibited and areas where it was granted (East Street), where street trading was permitted. There were five pitches for street trading in the city centre. The seafront area including Grand Junction Road and kings Road were designated as consent streets but were outside the trading policy established by the Council and control of that area was the responsibility of the Seafront Office.

6.3         Since revision of the policy, officers had been asked to deal with street trading situations including parking obstructions in Controlled Parking Zones and obstructions in the city centre; fly traders; difficulties in George Street in relation to the Farmers’ Market and also, parking dilemmas which had arisen in Upper Gardener Street. A summary of complaints received had been compiled and was attached as an Appendix to the report. Due to the number and complexity of the complaints received in recent months no further street trading permits had been issued pending members review of the existing policy.

6.4         Councillor Simson enquired whether imposition of the policy in the terms proposed would remove discretion in dealing with future applications and it was confirmed that applications would continue to be judged on their individual merits. Councillor Lepper sought clarification in relation to the issue of peddlers licences.

6.5         RESOLVED - (1) The Committee notes the current position in relation to 18 Zone B traders (consents allowing trading outside the city centre) which have generated 70 complaints (45 directly relating to behaviour, 15 of the complaints related to nuisance and obstruction;

              (2) That the Committee confirms the current policy;

              (3) That the Committee adopts the suggested guidelines on the relevance of convictions set out in Appendix E to the report; and

              (4) That the Committee approves the further issue of street trading consents for Zone B (outside the city centre)