Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that Councillor B. McEldowney be appointed Chairman of the Sub-Committee.

There were no apologies for absence.

To invite Councillors to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Other Disclosable Interests they may have in items on the agenda, and to confirm the nature of those interests.

It was noted that all Members present at the meeting declared Other Disclosable Interests in Agenda Item 4 – Application for a Street Trading Consent, in respect of a Layby on B4551, Bromsgrove Road, Romsley, Worcestershire, B62 0HH; in that they were all aware that a representation had been submitted by the Ward Member for Belbroughton and Romsley, who was a District Councillor.

All Members confirmed that no discussions had taken place with the Ward Member for Belbroughton and Romsley in respect of this application.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the Sub-Committee meeting and brief introductions were given. 

It was noted that Councillor S. R. Peters and Ms. S. Royall, Licensing Officer, Worcestershire Regulatory Services, were in attendance to observe the meeting.

The Chairman asked the applicant if he had been made aware that he could be represented by a legal representative at the applicant’s own expense during the Hearing.  The applicant confirmed that he had been made aware and was happy for the Hearing to continue.

The Sub-Committee then considered an application for street trading consent to sell hot and cold food and non-alcoholic drinks from a re-purposed mobile horse trailer located at a layby on B4551, Bromsgrove Road, Romsley, Worcestershire, B62 0HH.

The Technical Officer, Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS) outlined the details of the application and the trading hours at the location, as detailed below: -

Monday and Wednesday – 08:00 hours to 14:00 hours.

Thursday and Friday – 08:00 hours to 16:00 hours.

Saturday and Sunday – 08:00 hours to 14:00 hours.

There had been no objections from any of the Responsible Authorities, which included Worcestershire County Council, Highways.

However, representations had been received from Romsley Parish Council, the Ward Member for Belbroughton and Romsley; and two nearby residents.  Their representations were in relation to: -

·         Road Safety.

·         Traffic Congestion.

·         Noise disturbance.

·         Odours from cooking.

·         Sanitation issues. 

·         Litter.

·         Adequate provision in the vicinity.

·         Impact on children’s safety.

·         Layby used as a bus stop for local children and support would not be given to this type of food outlet being available when they exit the bus.

·         Inappropriate location in a green belt, residential area.

·         Impact on property values.

·         Environmental Impact.

In response to a query from the Sub-Committee, the Council’s Legal Advisor stated that the role of the Technical Officer, WRS, was to ensure that a public notice was displayed at the proposed site, it was not their role to check visibility at the proposed site.

At the invitation of the Chairman, Mr. and Mrs. Coley addressed the Sub-Committee in support of the application.

Mrs. Coley informed Members that Mr. Coley had visited the proposed site twice prior to submitting his application; and that there was enough room / space for his re-purposed horse trailer, his vehicle and two further vehicles.  Space was not an issue in his opinion.  They had visited the site this morning and there were vehicles parked there.

Mr. Coley confirmed that the re-purposed horse trailer would be taken away and not left overnight at the proposed site, should a Street Trading Consent be granted. Food safety and hygiene regulations would be met.  With regards to waste, there would be no plastic used, cardboard would be used, in order to be environmentally friendly.  The proposed site was in a rural area and he would fully respect that. He would also have a trade waste agreement and would ensure that any waste generated from his mobile unit / near to his mobile unit was collected up at the end of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4/23