Agenda item

The Committee were asked to consider an application for a Block Street Trading Consent to trade in Caldicot Castle and Country Park.

The Principal Licensing Officer introduced the applicant, Mr. Michael Booth and highlighted the key issues of the report.

·         An application was received on 3rd March 2016 from Mr Michael Booth, Castle Manager for Caldicot Castle and Country Park.

·         A further request was made by Mr Booth to amend the application to increase the number of trading pitches inside the castle wall to 70 pitches (Block I) by e-mail on the 7th March 2016.  As such, the application request is to trade on Monday to Sunday between the hours of 08:00hrs until 22:00hrs.  The total pitches requested for Caldicot Castle and Country Park is 680 pitches.

·         The applicant has further stated that if the consent is granted he will ensure pitch holders will comply with the Council’s conditions for the consent. The applicant has stated within Section 2 of the application form that each person requesting a pitch will be required to complete an “Application for a Day Market Pitch”, which will be issued by Caldicot Castle and Country Park.

·         The application was forwarded to the consultees, these being Heddlu Gwent Police, Monmouthshire Planning Department, Monmouthshire Environmental Health Department and the Local Ward Member. No objections were received on this application.

·         No objections were received against this application, however a query was raised with the applicant as to the type of goods that would be sold when selling re-enactment equipment, which he stated in part 2 of his application form, in order to assess whether the type of goods meet the criteria of the Street Trading Policy. The applicant informed Licensing by e-mail on the 3^rd March 2016 that re-enactment equipment could include, knives, swords, bayonet, replica weapons, armour & associated clothing and further stated that when they host food festivals that have a number of trade stands that may have chef’s knives for sale. Again, the purpose of use for these knives is a specialist market.

Members discussed the application and concerns were expressed regarding the sale of knives and such equipment, but acknowledged the age restrictions. 

There were no objections to the block booking but Members were satisfied with the level of supervisions at events held at Caldicot Castle.

Mr Booth advised that these items were on sale currently at paid entry events, and the application under discussion related to sale of items at non-paid events also.  We heard that traders would be invited to submit an application which would then be accepted or rejected in terms of suitability for the event.

The report advised that Members were recommended to:

·         Consider and determine the application form attached to the report.

·         Consider and determine the permission to allow the sale of “Re- Enactment Equipment.”

·         Consider and determine the permission to allow the sale of knives.

Following discussion Members unanimously agreed to grant the application, noting the change of recommendation to include ‘to allow the sale of Re-Enactment Equipment at appropriate events’.