Issue - meetings

The Committee considered a report which provided additional information on the fees charged by other neighbouring Councils in respect of Street Trading.  The report also addressed the issue of a review of the Bromsgrove District Street Trading Consent policy to be included in the work programme for the Licensing Committee.

The Chairman welcomed Mr. M. Kay, Licensing Manager from Worcestershire Regulatory Shared Services (WRSS) to the meeting.  Mr. Kay briefly informed the Committee of his role within WRSS. 

The Licensing Manager introduced the report and in doing so requested that the Committee noted amendments to para 3.2 and para 4.4 of the report where references made to licence be amended to read consent.

Mr. Kay informed Members that he would respond to questions with regard to the Licensing Manager’s report in the absence of Mr. S. Jorden, Head of Worcestershire Regulatory Services, who had submitted his apologies.

Mr. Kay responded to several questions raised by Councillor B. Lewis F.CMI.  Mr. Kay informed the Committee that under legislation licensing fees and charges had to be based on full cost recovery (full cost recovery of the administration, inspection and enforcement) and not profit.  He informed the Committee that licensing fees and charges could be challenged if they were considered to be disproportionate.  The Committee was informed that WRSS would be looking at licensing fees and charges across all districts and that once completed the Committee would be informed of the relevant cost recovery fees and charges for the Bromsgrove district. 

Mr. Kay further responded to Members’ questions and informed the Committee that WRSS would help formulate policies and where relevant any conformity would be included within policies but policies would remain local to each district. 

Councillor Mrs. J. M. L. A. Griffiths requested Members who had expressed concerns and had raised questions with regard to existing Street Traders to raise their concerns with officers outside of the Committee meeting.

RESOLVED:

(a)    that a review of the Bromsgrove District Council Street Trading Consent            Policy be included in the work programme for the Licensing Committee in             June 2011; and

(b)    that the fees charged for Street Trading consents by other Councils as   set out in para 4.2  of this report, together with the proposed fees for            Bromsgrove District Council            for 2011/2012 as set out in para 4.1, be           noted.