Agenda item - Street Trading - Designation of Streets

Report of the Assistant Director of Public Safety (copy attached).

RESOLVED – That the Committee agrees the following in relation to Street Trading – Designation of Streets:

1.         That the Committee authorises Officers to publish Notice of Intention to designate streets as set out in appendix 1.

2.         That the Committee authorises Officers to serve a copy of Notice on the Chief Officer of Police and the Highways Authority.

3.         That the Committee authorises Officers to consult further with existing street traders.

34.1    The Committee considered a report from the Assistant Director of Public Safety regarding Street Trading – Designation of Streets (for a copy see minute book).

34.2    The Licensing Manager addressed the Committee and stated that the report set out proposals for the designation of streets and that Officers were requesting that further consultation take place with traders regarding this issue.

34.3    Councillor Hamilton asked for clarification on which streets in Portslade were included and the Head of Environmental Health and Licensing stated that the area was split into north and south. The streets in the south were generally prohibited streets, except for those listed at appendix 1 of the report. The streets in the north were generally allowed, except for those streets listed in appendix 1 of the report.

34.4    Councillor Kitcat asked the Officers to present this information in a clearer way when consulting the public on this issue and the Head of Environmental Health and Licensing agreed to this.

34.5    Councillor Lepper noted that there was confusion about what a street trader was and how they differed to peddlers and those offering services. She asked for this to be made clear as part of the consultation. The Head of Environmental Health and Licensing agreed that this was a difficult area to explain because of the high number of exemptions that applied to street traders. He noted that a strict regime was unnecessary, but stated that a private Bill was going to parliament regarding the removal of peddler exemptions, and would include allowing Councils the power to seize goods. The Committee could offer their support to this Bill, if they so wished. The Head of Environmental Health and Licensing added that a report had been submitted to Committee on 27 November 2008 and had described the numerous exemptions to this policy.

34.6    RESOLVED – That the Committee agrees the following in relation to Street Trading – Designation of Streets:

1.         That the Committee authorises Officers to publish Notice of Intention to designate streets as set out in appendix 1.

2.         That the Committee authorises Officers to serve a copy of Notice on the Chief Officer of Police and the Highways Authority.

3.         That the Committee authorises Officers to consult further with existing street traders.