Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED: That Councillor Udall be appointed Chairman.

COUNCILLOR UDALL IN THE CHAIR.

To receive any declarations of interest.

None.

That the Licensing Sub-Committee consider and determine whether to grant or refuse the application made by Mr Turlica for a Mobile Street Trading Licence in Worcester City Centre.

The Sub-Committee has considered an application for a Street Trading Licence made by Mr Cosmin-Nicolae Turlica for a Mobile Street Trading Licence in Worcester City Centre to operate Monday to Sunday from 10.00am – 7.00pm, selling ice cream and lemonade.

At the start of the hearing, the Chairman made the following statement:

“Presentations to this Sub-Committee are not given under oath. However, I would like to remind all parties that the highest standards are expected and any deviation from these high standards could possibly influence any decision of the Sub-Committee.”

All parties at the hearing introduced themselves. Mr Turlica chose not to have any representation. Mr Turlica stated he was satisfied with the proposed procedure.

The Legal Services representative summarised the matter for consideration. The matter had been referred to the Sub-Committee for determination by Worcestershire Regulatory Services as representations had been received from existing Worcester City street trading licence holders, Mr and Mrs Bright and Mr Connelly, both objecting to the grant of the licence.

The Technical Officer (Licensing) presented the report on behalf of Worcestershire Regulatory Services, setting out the background to the application, as detailed in the agenda report.

All parties were given the opportunity to ask questions of the Technical Officer (Licensing) regarding the report.

Mr Turlica was given the opportunity to make representations in support of his application. Mr Turlica expressed his wish to be able to sell ice-cream to the public and offer the Worcester community the right to choose different products from different traders. Mr Turlica confirmed to the Sub-Committee that he would abide by the terms of the licence.

Mr Stuart Wright of Harrison Clark Rickerbys Solicitors spoke on behalf of Mr Connelly. Mr Wright asked Mr Turlica about trading prior to having received his street trading licence. The Technical Officer (Licensing) was able to confirm that licensing officers had approached Mr Turlica and requested he cease trading as a licence had not yet been granted. The incident was taken as a misunderstanding by Mr Turlica and that he was fully compliant with officer instructions, consequently no further issues of unlicensed trading have been reported.

Mr Wright questioned the Technical Officer (Licensing) about complaints received regarding street trading. The Technical Officer (Licensing) responded that complaints have been received by the Licensing Authority, although the Officer was unaware of the exact figure. A number of complaints had been received regarding South Quay and Riverside locations and that the focus of the complaints had been about traders not moving on. The Chair asked if it was known who had made the complaints. The Technical Officer (Licensing) informed the Sub-Committee that the majority of these complaints were from existing street traders.

Mr Wright referred to section 4.3 of the report regarding reasons the council may refuse an application. Mr Wright asked the Technical Officer (Licensing) what constitutes “enough traders”. The Technical Officer (Licensing) responded that for a mobile street trading licence there should not be an issue of too many traders as long as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.