Agenda item

The Principle Licencing Officer, Worcester Regulatory Services (WRS), presented the report to Members. The purpose of the report was to seek members approval to advertise a proposal to designate all streets in the Borough as consent streets for the purposes of controlling street trading.

Officers detailed to Members that the Street trading policy was due for a review, however, before that could take place Members would have to redesignate the streets of the Borough to include any new streets since the previous policy had been adopted. Officers further detailed that an additional line would be added to the designations to ensure that as new developments were completed, and new streets were constructed they would be covered under the policy.

The current policy designated a number of prohibited steets as outlined on page 22 of the Public Reports Pack. Members were asked to decide whether they wanted to retain some of those streets, add additional prohibited streets or amend the list. Officers explained to Members that the recommendation was to make all streets “consent streets”, therefore, individuals would be able to apply for consent for any street and each application would be considered on its own merit.

Officers highlighted to members the timescales involved in redesignating the streets and detailed to Members the process of consultations and ratification at full Council. An updated Street Trading policy would be drafted and brought before Members of the Licencing Parent Committee and both the new designations and policy would come into effect on 1^st September 2024.

Officers clarified the following points after questions from Members.

• That there was no daily rate for street trading licences only an annual one and there was no minimum period of time to apply to trade.
• That although an individual could apply for consent to trade if the prohibited status was lifted, all relevant consultees which included Ward Members would be informed of the application and would have opportunity to object.

Members then debated the report.

Members saw the Merits of Removing all the designations and therefore giving more freedom to those who wish to apply for consent and not having a blanket refusal for the prohibited streets, however, Members wished to retain some of the prohibited streets.

Councillor Harvey proposed an Alternative Recommendation which was seconded by Councillor Baker that the prohibited designation was removed for all the streets with the exception of the following Streets;

• Alvechurch Highway
• Alcester Highway
• Bromsgrove Highway
• Coventry Highway
• Redditch Ringway
• Warwick Highway
  
  

On being put to a vote it was

RESOLVED that

• Officers were authorised to publish notice ofthe Council’s intention to pass resolutions which would take effecton 1^st September 2024 and would rescind all existing designations ofstreets under Schedule 4 of the Local Government (MiscellaneousProvisions) Act 1982 and designate all streets in the Borough (asexisting at the time of the making of the resolution and in thefuture) as consent streets, with the exception of the following streets which are to be designated as prohibited streets:

• Officers were authorised to serve a copy ofthe notice on the Chief Officer of Police and the highway authorityfor the area.