Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED: That Councillor Knight be appointed Chairman.

COUNCILLOR KNIGHT IN THE CHAIR.

To receive any declarations of interest.

None.

To consider an application for the renewal of a static Street Trading Licence submitted by Mr Ben Fisher in respect of a street trading unit trading as Habaneros located on:

The Shambles

Worcester

The Sub-Committee considered an application for the renewal of a Static Street Trading Licence in respect of a street trading unit trading as Habaneros located on The Shambles, Worcester, submitted by Mr Ben Fisher.

At the start of the meeting the Chairman made the following statement:

“Presentations to the 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. The Licensing Officer informed the Sub-Committee that the Applicant had advised that he would not be attending the hearing due to work commitments.  Mr Hywel Pontin was present to support the objection submitted by The Churches Conservation Trust. There were no representatives of the Worcestershire County Council Highways department or the City Council’s Economic Development & Regeneration Team, which had both submitted objections and it was noted that this was due to the relevant officers being on annual leave. A previous hearing had been adjourned when the Applicant had not attended and on that basis the Sub-Committee was prepared to proceed with the hearing.

The Senior Practitioner - Licensing presented the report on behalf of Worcestershire Regulatory Services. The Council currently controls street trading within the City; all streets within the City have been designated as Licensed Streets. The applicant, Mr Fisher has been licensed by the Council to trade in a static capacity on the Shambles since October 2015. The Licensing Office processed a completed street trading renewal application which had been submitted by Mr Fisher in respect of the static street trading unit.

The Council received three representations objecting to the grant of a renewed street trading licence. Representations were made by Worcestershire County Council Highways Authority, Worcester City Council Planning & Economic Development Department and the Churches Conservation Trust. All three representations cite the location of the street trading unit as the main point of objection; the area of the Shambles pertaining to this application forms part of the Public Realm redevelopment improvement works for the City. Following the completion of these works, any street trading unit operating in this location would not have enough space in the street to trade without causing undue interference or inconvenience to any persons using the street.

The Senior Practitioner - Licensing informed the Sub-Committee that Mr Fisher was offered an alternate trading location within the City, however Mr Fisher declined the offer as he did not feel this was a viable alternative.

The Senior Practitioner - Licensing further explained that Mr Fisher had been trading intermittently over the previous two years. Licensing Officers contacted Mr Fisher following evidence of another unit operating on the site under the trading name “The Northfield Grill”. Mr Fisher had confirmed that the unit was his and the person trading was under his employment.

All parties were given the opportunity to ask questions the Senior Practitioner - Licensing.

The Senior Practitioner - Licensing informed the Sub-Committee  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.