Agenda item

Report of the Director of Services and Neighbourhoods

The Food and Licensing Services Manager presented a report detailing the results of a consultation exercise which had been carried out between 12^th April 2012 and 25^th May 2012 on the draft policies for licensing Advertising Boards and Tables and Chairs on the Highway.  Members were requested to note the consultation feedback and to approve and adopt the final versions of each of the Policies.

The Committee was advised of the background to the report and the key issues which needed to be considered by them in their evaluation.  The Food and Licensing Services Manager summarised the five formal written responses which had been received during the consultation and highlighted where these responses had necessitated changes to the draft policies which required Member approval.

Questions to the Food and Licensing Services Manager and Committee debate

Councillor Toleman asked how businesses in the Docks would be controlled as he was aware of residents’ concerns that ‘A’ boards and tables and chairs should not cause a problem.  The Food and Licensing Services Manager responded that she had raised this with the City Council’s Conservation Team and that there would be liaison with the Docks Management Company and other agencies to ensure consistency of approach on privately owned land.

Councillor Brown enquired if existing ‘A’ board licence holders could be given 6 months to comply with the new policy and it was agreed that this would be included in the policy.

Councillor Porter queried whether there were sufficient staff resources to enforce the new policies.  The Food and Licensing Services Manager remarked that there would be help from the Planning Conservation Team and Neighbourhood Officers.  Councillor Toleman suggested that the team also liaised with the Markets and City Centre Service Manager.

Councillor Porter asked whether there had been any complaints in the past from the Police or Highways Authority concerning ‘A’ boards on main highways which advertised businesses in side streets.  It was confirmed that there had not been any complaints. The Committee agreed that side street traders should not be denied the right to an ‘A’ board and that this would be reflected in the policy.

Councillor Porter remarked that he considered it was unnecessary and onerous for businesses to have to have to provide CCTV as had been suggested by Gloucestershire Constabulary in 4.8 of the report.  Councillor Randle commented that most public houses already had CCTV in operation.  The Committee voted on whether to accept this condition and there was a majority vote in favour of the recommendation.

Councillor Randle believed that a condition to remove tables and chairs after 23.00 hours would cause difficulty for some small businesses who did not have storage facilities.  The Group Manager for Environmental Health and Regulatory Services advised the Committee that provided nuisance was not an issue that there could be flexibility with this requirement.

RESOLVED

1.         That the consultation feedback on the two policies to place Items on the Highway be noted.

2.         That the proposed amendments as detailed in paragraphs 4.3, 4.5 and 4.7 be noted and included in the final policy for placing Advertising Boards on a Highway plus the following additions:-

i.              A further condition that existing ‘A’ Board licence holders be required to comply with the policy within six months from 1^st July 2012

ii.            Insertion of the word ‘normally’ in the criteria regarding sides streets under ‘Guidance’ within the policy.

3.         That the proposed amendments as detailed in paragraphs 4.7 and 4.8 be noted and included in the final policy for placing Tables and Chairs on a Highway.