Apologies for absence had been received from Councillors Connal and Saffery. 

There were no disclosures of interest.

The minutes of the meeting held on 25 June 2018 to be submitted and signed.

The minutes of the meeting held on the 25 June 2018 were submitted and signed.

A report of the Head of Community and Environmental Services asking the Committee to consider the results of the public consultation and approve the final policy.

The committee received a report of the Head of Community and Environmental Services.  It set out how the committee had previously agreed to extend the present interim street trading policy subject to the results of a public consultation (as discussed in the report).  Members were now asked to consider the results of the consultation and approve the final policy.

The Environmental Health Manager introduced the report.  He described how an interim town centre street trading policy had first been agreed in July 2014 and how this had been renewed in September 2015 – with the current interim policy expiring on 31 December 2018.  He read the recommendations to the Committee as outlined on Page 4 of the report.

He described how the various streets and major roads in the borough were designated in to the four categories of trading as defined under Schedule 4 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous provisions) Act 1982.  He clarified that the policy did not apply to events held under the market charter or in respect of non-commercial street trading activities.

The Environmental Health Manager explained that the public consultation was held between 6 July 2018 and 17 August 2018; and although this was a week later than planned the length of the consultation period remained unchanged.  He outlined the four main issues focussed on in the consultation as discussed in paragraph 5.3 of the report (and as agreed by the Licensing committee on 25 June 2018). 

He went on to discuss the consultation feedback and the suggested new wording in the proposed policy as articulated in paragraphs 5.4, 5.5 and 5.6 of the report. 

He concluded by advising members that the developing town centre vision and emerging Cultural Plan may affect the types of events being held in the town centre in the future, as well as the location that they might be held.  The policy would therefore need to be kept under review so that it could support and help deliver both strategies.

In response to a question from members, the Environmental Health Manager clarified how the policy impacted on commercial events held under the market charter.

The Chair thanked the Environmental Health Manager for the detailed work undertaken in the preparation of the report.

RESOLVED –

1.      That the Committee approved the town centre street trading policy 2018 - 2021 as attached at Appendix 2.

                                    Chair

Licensing Committee

The meeting started at 7.30 p.m.

The meeting started at 7.35 p.m.

and finished at 7.50 p.m.