The officers consider that the following item or items contains exempt information as provided for in the Local Government Access to Information Act and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information. The Committee is recommended to agree the necessary resolutions excluding the public from the meeting during consideration of these items. At the time this agenda is published no representations have been that this part of the meeting should be open to the public.

A recommendation was made that the public is excluded during consideration of the items of business.

Decision

To exclude the public during consideration of the following items which involved consideration of exempt information relating to the financial or business affairs of particular persons, and public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

The report of the Head of Planning, Building Control and Licensing will follow.

This item received no representations so was granted prior to the hearing.

The report of the Head of Planning, Building Control and Licensing is attached.

The Committee members all confirmed they recognised the applicant from the local area were they grew up. They however confirmed that they did not have a prejudicial interest and that the applicant was not a close friend or associate. The applicant confirmed that he had no objections to any of the Committee members hearing the application. 

Whilst the Committee had sympathy with the applicant and fully accepted his desire to trade back in the area where he grew up they also had to take into consideration their street trading policy and the suitability of the area within which he wished to trade.

The Committee accepted the concerns of the North Neighbourhood Team and agreed that the current problems with parking on Ridgeway Street would only be exacerbated if the trader was allowed to set up his van there.

With the current issues of parking and congestion in the area the Committee were of the view that there was not sufficient space in the area to trade without causing interference or inconvenience to people using the street. The Committee were also well aware of the area and were of the view that there was already adequate provision of the goods similar to those the applicant wishes to sell in the local area.

The applicant was informed of the right to appeal to the full Licensing Committee.

Decision

To refuse to grant the application.

The report of the Head of Planning, Building Control and Licensing is attached.

The Committee heard from the applicant that they had been trading for a number of years without any previous substantiated complaints or appearances before Committee. This was confirmed by Licensing.

The Committee were given details of the nature of the operation and that the trader only begins setting up from about 8.30am and therefore could not be responsible for any noise caused from 6.30am. A letter of support was also put before the Committee from a local resident confirming there were no issues with the trader and that noise in the city centre area came from a variety of other sources.

The Committee carefully consider the written objection from a local resident however accepted the comments from the applicant that they were not here to ask any further questions of to determine the exact times and dates of any noise disturbance they stated they have suffered.

The Committee accepted that the applicant was a responsible trader who had been operating in the same location for a number of years without any issues or complaints and were of the view it is fit to grant the street trading licence renewal.

Decision

To grant the renewal application.