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The Cabinet Member with responsibility for Community Health introduced report ES/1046 which proposed a review of the Council's Street Trading Policy at Lowestoft Seafront in order to support the Council's project for the redevelopment of the East Point Pavilion.
The Cabinet Member advised that, following the formation of East Suffolk Council, the northern and southern part of the Council's area had retained differing approaches to street trading. As a result, it had been recognised that a District wide review of Street Trading was now due. The report before Members was the first part of the review, focussing on the Street Trading Policy at Lowestoft Seafront, with the remainder of Council's area to follow in the latter half of 2022. East Point Pavilion had been constructed in the early 1990s but had, in recent years, fallen into disuse. The Council's Cabinet had approved a new project for the redevelopment of the Pavilion and, in support of that project, the Council's Street Trading Policy at Lowestoft seafront needed to be reviewed. The seafront between the Pavilion and Claremont Pier was designated as a Licence Street and therefore a licence was required for street trading. Under the current policy, only three licences could be issued and none had been issued at the present time, so the Council did not therefore receive any income for the area. Marine Parade and Royal Green car park were currently designated as prohibited streets, meaning that street trading could not take place within 20 metres.
The Committee was being requested to consider the report and approve going out to consultation on the proposed un-designation of Lowestoft Seafront between East Point Pavilion and Claremont Pier, Royal Terrace, Royal Plain, Parade Road North, Marine Parade between Parade Road North and the first junction of Royal Green Car Park and the portion of Royal Green car park within 20m of the East Point Pavilion project area, from the Street Trading Policy.
The Cabinet Member advised that it was an offence under paragraph 10(1) of schedule 4 of the 1982 Act to engage in street trading on a licence street without being authorised to do so. Therefore, the proposed events at the Pavilion would be severely limited as the number of outside stalls would be restricted to three. It was therefore being recommended to vary the Council's current Policy in order to support the redevelopment project and the regeneration of the area. Should the Policy be varied, any traders on Lowestoft seafront would still need consent from the Council as landowner which would ensure that undesirable traders could be excluded.
The Head of Operations advised that he was accompanied by Lizzie Hall from First Light Festival CIC who would be running the Pavilion and events in the area. By giving context to the report, he explained the seafront vision which would provide a boost to the economy for the town and encourage visitors into the area. In 2017, there had been one million visitors to Lowestoft, with 80% some 250,000 people coming from within a 20 mile radius. If that was pushed out to a 40 mile radius 500,000 people could be captured and a 50 mile radius would capture Norwich and Ipswich and up to 750,000 visitors. It was important to put on events that people would wish to travel to, including arts, culture and food/drink, and bringing people into the area would provide benefits for the local economy too.
The Head of Operations advised that the 2019 First Light Festival, which would be held again in 2022, had been a success with 35/40% of people never having previously visited Lowestoft. Local traders did well with an increase in business and the local B&Bs benefitted from extra bookings. Street trading in the seafront areas would help facilitate the proposals for the Pavilion and enhance the area, not compete with local traders.
Note: At this point, Councillor Goldson joined the meeting at 6.45pm.
Lizzie Hall, from First Light Festival CIC, outlined their ideas for East Point Pavilion in that there would be five permanent year round traders including one for drinks. In addition to First Light, specialist small trader events would be held through the year to attract more people into the town, for example a vintage fair, a produce event, children's literature festival and street food. The flexibility would make the Pavilion work and additional street traders would encourage visitors into the town. They would have an element of control as the street traders would have to apply for a stall and tick all the environmental health boxes.
The Economic Regeneration Manager advised that the project was part of the investment plan for the town from the levelling up project supported by the Government. It would help with expanding the tourism season and increase footfall over the full year resulting in an increase in spend in the town of Lowestoft. The First Light Festival had also encouraged local businesses to promote themselves.
Members raised questions relating to:
- Competition with the Town Council's street market.
- How this would affect existing street traders.
- The number of licenced traders and frequency of events.
- If stalls outside of the Festival would regenerate the seafront.
- Number of applicants for the stalls.
- Reference in paragraph 1.3 of the report indicting there would be 46 events per year.
The Licensing Manager advised that the proposal was not classed as a market and therefore not in competition with any existing street markets. The Town Council would be consulted on the proposals. There were no licensed traders in the area at the present time.
Ms Hall advised that there had been 12 traders at the 2019 First Light Festival and, going forward, it would depend on the event whether there would be 2-3 or eight stalls. With 5,000 people attending the festival, they would need at least eight food stalls to feed the visitors and they would look at various options to supplement the Pavilion. The Head of Operations confirmed that the proposed changes to street trading in the report would give the Council the option to increase the number of stalls and that the stalls would still be under the control of the Council as licences would need to be applied for. It was hoped to have five core traders permanently in the Pavilion. By testing the market, people had already shown interest. Ms Hall advised that they hoped to identify 46 events of various scale in size and certainly there would be no less than 10 in a year.
In response to a comment on the current policy being divided between the former Waveney and Suffolk Coastal District Councils, the Licensing Manager advised that this was the beginning of a long planned review; it was hoped to start further work in the second half of the current year.
The Committee acknowledged the proposals for the regeneration of Lowestoft which would hopefully enhance the town and attractiveness of the seafront to visitors, as well as encouraging new visitors into the area. Members supported the proposals and
RESOLVED
That the consultation process to un-designate from the Street Trading Policy, Lowestoft Seafront between East Point Pavilion and Claremont Pier, Royal Terrace, Royal Plain, Parade Road North, Marine Parade between Parade Road North and the first junction of the Royal Green Car Park and the portion of Royal Green Car Park within 20 metres of the East Point Pavilion Project Area, be commenced.