Apologies for absence had been received from Councillor Scudder.  Councillor Barton had contacted Democratic Services prior to the meeting to advise that he would be late due to problems with public transport out of London.

There were no disclosures of interest.

The minutes of the meeting held on 17 January 2018 to be submitted and signed.

The minutes of the meeting held on the 17 January 2018 were submitted and signed.

A report of the Head of Community and Environmental Services asking the committee to extend the town centre street trading policy, with some minor amendments, until 31 December 2021 subject to the results of a public consultation.

The Committee received a report of the Head of Community and Environmental Services.  It was noted that there was an error in the report; the current policy was Appendix 2 and the proposed policy due to take effect from 1 January 2019 was Appendix 1 and not as indicated in the report. 

The Environmental Health Manager informed the committee that the policy may need to be revised due to the proposed Town Centre Vision and Cultural Plan before its end date, 31 December 2021.  He clarified the different types of streets mentioned in the report. These included ‘prohibited streets’, ‘licence streets’, ‘consent streets’ and undesignated.  The prohibited streets included major roads within the borough, Albert Road South and the High Street and all roads leading from it.  The majority of streets outside the town centre were classed as ‘consent’ streets’.  This meant that prior permission was needed to trade from within 10 metres of the roadway.

The Environmental Health Manager explained the different types of stalls that could apply for a licence whilst the Big Events were taking place.  It was proposed that the food hygiene rating would be strengthened further.  Any business requiring a food hygiene rating would be registered with their own local authority.  Officers from Watford Borough Council would check the rating with the relevant local authority prior to the stallholder being granted the licence.  It was also possible for the council’s team to inspect the facilities, however if a rating of 4 or more was held Environmental Health would not be too concerned about the business as it showed there was already a high standard in place.

RESOLVED –

1.      that the draft town centre street trading policy 2018-2021, attached as Appendix 1 to the report, be approved for consultation.

2.      that the results of the public consultation on the draft town centre street trading policy 2018-2021 be brought back to Licensing Committee in September with a view to approving the policy.

3.      that officers consult with the parties as set out in paragraph 6.2 of the report and report to the Licensing Committee at its meeting on 26 September 2018 and then Council on 16 October 2018 be agreed.