Agenda item - Street Trading

Report of Assistant Director of Public Safety (copy attached).

RESOLVED – that permission to commence consultation on street trading within Brighton and Hove be granted.

17.1    The Licensing Manager presented a report on Street Trading to the Committee and highlighted that the Members were being asked for permission to begin a consultation process on street trading within the city.

17.2    It was explained that the current policies are an amalgamation of Brighton Borough Council and Hove Borough Council policies, which has resulted in a lack of clarity and in some cases, unenforceable conditions.

17.3    Members felt there was a need for higher quality pitches city wide, and for more pitches to be made available, especially in the city centre and on the seafront. It was asked whether the Council could make preferences on the type of stalls that opened on street pitches and the Head of Environmental Health and Licensing replied that whilst this had been done in the past, it had resulted in undesirable consequences on the streets concerned.

17.4    It was noted that Upper Gardner Street currently had spare pitches available and if street traders required a pitch they could move there immediately. The Members felt that Upper Gardner Street needed more positive management to ensure the wellbeing of the area, but that it might not be suitable for some traders who wanted to be nearer to the sea. The Head of Environmental Health and Licensing highlighted that the seafront continued to be a consent street, but that this could be altered under the new policy if necessary.

17.5    RESOLVED – that permission to commence consultation on street trading within Brighton and Hove be granted.