Agenda item

This report updates Members on the progress towards implementing a Street Trading Policy.

Members considered a report that provided an update on the progress towards implementing a Street Trading Policy. The Licensing Manager outlined the report noting that there was no legal requirement for the policy. She detailed the key changes to the policy, noting that consultation had been carried out. She noted the outcomes of the meeting with MiY and street traders. She advised that condition 19 in the policy was no longer relevant. She explained that officers would continue to explore solutions and consider how the Street Traders Charter could be incorporated into the policy. She added that the aim was for the policy to go to the February meeting, or if not the March meeting. She explained that paragraph 8.2 was the contentious part of the policy. The Chair noted that the policy was putting into place what already tool place.

The Licensing Manager was asked a number of questions from Members to which she explained that.

·        Officers were aware of MiY planning in January and they would try to have a policy that took into account the views of different people.

·        At present, consents were issued to individual names and officers would look int consents been issued in company’s name. If the business was sold to a different person, the consent would need to be surrendered to allow the council to informally tendry the site.

·        Environmental considerations were lightly introduced in the policy and the council did not tender annually for street trading consents. If a site became available, they would write to people who had shown an interest in trading in the city.

·        Regarding the formation of a working group, the Committee could not make a decision that day as it was an update report. Officers would discuss a working group with the Chair.

·        At the meeting with MiY and street traders, MiY events such as the Christmas market, ice trail, Halloween/autumn events during half term were discussed.

·        MiY have received some negative feedback regarding overcrowding at the Christmas market. They took this feedback and feedback given by the SAG into consideration. The food festival and Viking festival footfall was not as large as that of the Christmas market.

·        MiY put out information about the costs of huts and the different fees for the different sizes of huts. The fees for the huts were considerably higher than street trader fees. MiY had said that they would accommodate street traders within the Christmas market offering a pitch, if street traders requested a different location for the pitch a different fee might be charged.

·        Regarding the vehicle weight permitted as a street trader, officers would take advice on it from MiY and street traders at their next meeting.

·        It couldn’t be confirmed that street traders would get a different pitch at the Christmas market.

·        [At this point a Member queried the transparency regarding Deputy Leader being a Director of MiY and a member of the Shareholder Committee. Members were advised that appointments were made at Council and the Staffing Matters and Urgency Committee].

·        If traders had to be moved, officers would work with MiY to try to relocate them.

·        Information was collected when applications were renewed.

Resolved: That the update report be noted.

Reason:     To be kept up to date on the development of the Street Trading Consent Policy.

[The meeting adjourned from 6.45pm until 6.50pm].

[Cllr Kilbane rejoined the meeting at 6.50pm].