The Committee received report ES/2358 of the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Community Health which related to street trading in East Suffolk.
In introducing the report, Councillor Candy said that the Licensing Committee had resolved to adopt a district wide street trading policy in accordance with paragraph 2, schedule 4 of the Local Government Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1982. The Licensing Committee had already approved 3 consultations; the results of which were reported back to Committee in October 2023, January 2024 and October 2024. Views were sought on the proposal to change the policy and which streets should be consented or prohibited. If a street is prohibited then no street trading can take place at all, if it is a consent street then community events involving street trading could take place but nothing else.
A statement to make it clear that a consent street permits community events only should be included in the policy.
The proposed list of streets was approved in October 2024, a further consultation with the public was ordered, this resulted in only Golf Road in Felixstowe being proposed as a prohibited street. However, Felixstowe Town Council did not recommend that Golf Road be included as a prohibited street. The final decision as to which streets will be consent or prohibited streets is a matter for the Committee.
There will be a consent fee of £350 for each consent for one street for one year.
The Chair invited questions on the report.
Councillor Jepson referenced page 11 of the minutes of the January Licensing Committee. He noted there was the debate about 5 councillors abstaining, but thought the vote had stood. He questioned if they appeared to have voted for it last time, why had it come back to the Committee.
The Licensing Manager confirmed that as the two recommendations hadn’t been passed in the January Committee, neither of them had passed so they needed to be voted on again. Councillor Jepson asked if the wording in the two reports had been changed.
The Licensing Manager stated that the report had been worded slightly differently in this report to make the recommendation clearer this time, and make it clear that everyone knows what they’re voting on.
Councillor Jepson said he was the only Councillor who had spoken to the people who objected to Golf Road. Their objections were based on the location, disturbance, diesel fumes and noise. He added the individual would park their all day to secure a spot to serve fish and chips from. He said those circumstances had not changed, therefore he would still recommend that Golf Road was a prohibited street.
Councillor Reeves view was that Environmental Protection would be a better route for them to complain to.
Councillor Hedgley asked if the fish and chip van was there all day every day, 7 days a week and if not how long was it there? He said if it was there all day reserving a space, then it was a King’s Highway and anyone could park. He asked if there was noise and smells all day or was equipment being switched on in the evening. Councillor Jepson said it was the latter.
Councillor Hedgley understood but was supporting the proposition.
Councillor Smith-Lyte said that since this had come up the owner had a new van, which was cleaner and newer with less emissions.
Councillor Plummer felt that prohibiting a whole road due to one vehicle was overkill and there needed to be other ways of controlling what has happening, such as pursuing an Environmental Protection compliant if necessary.
The Chair said it would only impact 3 or 4 houses as one side was seaside, therefore a limited number of people would be affected.
Councillor Jepson took the point that were very few houses. He said it was a shame that more hadn’t written in as they weren’t happy.
A vote took place on recommendation 1
On the proposition of Councillor Hedgley, seconded by Councillor Thompson, it was
1. resolves that Golf Road in Felixstowe is not approved as a Prohibited street and so is not added to the final approved list of Prohibited streets.
On the proposition of Councillor Hedgley, seconded by Councillor Thompson, it was