Agenda item

Members were asked to consider the following;

Information of the approved waiver of fee for the day block street trading event on 2nd May 2016 at Magor Square, submitted by Magor Benefice Churchmen, and approved by the Chair of the Licensing & Regulatory Committee

To consider the waiver of fees for future applications submitted by Magor Benefice Churchmen for day block street trading consents.

It is recommended that Members consider the waiver of fees for future applications submitted by Magor Benefice Churchmen for day block street trading consents.

An application was received on 28th March 2016 for a day block street trading

consent from Mr Kevin Gunn, on behalf of Mr Robert Ollerton of Magor Benefice Churchmen for Magor Square. The application was for a day block street trading consent for the Magor Mayfayre event for stalls on 2nd May 2016.

The applicant on submitting the application referred to in 3.1 above further requested by e-mail on 28th March 2016 the fee be waivered for this event stating “it is run on an entirely voluntary basis, and all events are put on to raise money for local charities and charitable causes

Item 9 of the Street Trading Policy adopted by this Authority on 9th April 2016

states:-

A fee will not be required for fetes, carnivals and similar charitable and non-commercial events in certain exceptional circumstances, and at the approval of the Licensing and Regulatory Committee. In such circumstances, each application will be treated on its own merit.

The request was unable to go to the full Licensing and Regulatory Committee for a decision as the Committee following submission of the application would not be heard until 3rd May 2016 and the event is on 2nd May 2016.

As such, an urgent request was made by the Licensing Section with the Chair of the Licensing and Regulatory Committee on 20th April 2016 to decide whether the fee should be waivered. The request was made following consultation of the application, of which no responses against the grant of the consent was received.

The Chair, on behalf of the Licensing and Regulatory Committee agreed to waiver the fee by e-mail on 20th April 2016, and the consent has been duly processed.

Magor Benefice Churchmen hold a similar event in December in Magor Square, referred to as Magor Frost Fayre. The report request Members consider the waiver of fees for all future events organised by Magor Benefice Churchmen who run non-commercial charitable events.

Magor Benefice Churchmen will still be required to apply for a consent for each event and the Licensing Section will request they confirm the event on each application is processed is of a similar nature.

If Members approve the waiver of fees for future events. The Licensing Section will assess each application made for a consent and if there is any element of doubt as to the nature of the event the matter will be deferred to the Licensing and Regulatory Committee for a decision.

After hearing from the Principal Licensing Officer, Members made the following comments;

·         Members were pleased that this decision had been taken as they hope that it will encourage charitable groups to approach MCC to waive fees.

·         A Member was concerned that other groups would presume that their fees would also be waived and were reassured that all requests to waive fees have to be deferred to the Licensing and Regulatory Committee.

·         A Member told the Committee that this was the 30th year of the May Fair and the organisation was aware of their responsibilities.

After voting, Members of the Committee unanimously agreed to waive the fees for future applications submitted by Magor Benefice Churchmen for day block street trading consents.