Kim Winterton presented the Street Trading Policy and informed Members:
- Street Trading Policy development has been undertaken in response to the district experiencing problems with street trading activity. In seeking to redress those problems to the satisfaction of the community the regulatory partners have found it difficult through utilising existing enforcement options available to them;
- The policy is written in a way that will allow flexibility to enable Street Trading activity that supports the economy and tourism but enable Street Trading activity that supports the economy and tourism but enables effective powers to stop trade that is a nuisance to the community;
- Adoption of Schedule 4, Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982;
- Consideration of a draft Street Trading Policy for public consultation over a 12 week period;
- Committee Members to discuss and agree designated street areas across the district.
Members made comments, asked questions and received responses:
- Would the Wimblington side of the roundabout at Mill Hill be incorporated as technically it is not the access into town to which Kim Winterton explained there are no particular streets identified within the policy; Members may wish to name certain roads and areas in order to make it clear;
- Do laybys come under the same criteria to which Kim Winterton explained that a plan would show which part of the street was within the consent order, thereby identifying any necessary laybys.
Kim Winterton informed Members:
- Page 15 of the pack, under the heading Purpose, second bullet point, should read District and not County;
- The surrounding local authorities were looked at to see what they were using to enable Fenland to be as consistent as possible therefore the documents are an amalgamation of several different types to ensure that we are not too different from the other authorities and tweaked to suit Fenland activity;
- It may be prudent that this document is sent to Town and Parish Councils prior to public consultation, to add value to the policy by enabling problem streets to be identified;
- Laybys can be included if they are within the Fenland district;
- Tables and chairs placed outside premises to consume drinks and food are covered by a separate pavement cafe policy; the street trading policy covers those selling goods;
- Someone pitching up in a layby may need a street trading licence;
- There are some exemptions, ie community events
It was AGREED that the draft policy would go to Town and Parish Councils in order for streets to be identified prior to being sent out for public consultation. The Licensing Committee would meet again after the draft policy had been seen by Town and Parish Council but before the document was then sent for public consultation, in order to decide what should be included. A meeting date was set for Tuesday 14 October 2014 at 10:30am.