Agenda and minutes

The Sub Committee were advised of the unavailability of both the Chair and Vice-Chair for this meeting, and the need to elect a Member to preside as acting Chair. The Sub Committee unanimously voted to elect Councillor Ross Whiting to preside as Chair for the duration of the meeting.

An apology for absence was received from Dean Smith (Principal Engineer – Traffic Management)

There were no declarations of interest made at the beginning or during the course of the meeting.

The Acting Chair welcomed all those in attendance and introductions were made.

Mr Lee Morgan (Licensing Manager) referred to the apology for absence received from the Principal Engineer and explained that arrangements had been made for a colleague from the Highways Team (Rachel Hurn) to attend in his place, as Highways were the key consultee in response to the application.  He requested that a short adjournment be granted to 10.30 a.m. to allow Ms Hurn sufficient time to arrive for the meeting.

All parties were in agreement with the request and the meeting adjourned at 10.05 a.m.

The meeting reconvened at 10.30 a.m. and Ms Hurn (Assistant Engineer) was introduced to Members. 

The Legal Advisor to the Sub Committee outlined the procedure for the meeting, including the order of representations and the opportunities for all parties to ask questions. 

            Mr Lee Morgan (Licensing Manager) presented the report and outlined the application submitted by Miss Anneke Alosery for the grant of a Street Trading consent for a catering trailer located at the Old Telephone Exchange, Bridge Street, Abercarn, NP11 4SE, between the hours of 7am to 7pm for the provision of hot food, hot beverages and soft drinks.

The Sub Committee were referred to the representations received from Highways as an appropriate body, who had expressed concerns around public safety due to the lack of parking provision in the vicinity of the site and the potential for unlawful parking and traffic obstruction in the area.  Members noted the aerial and street view of the premises as set out in the meeting papers, with colour copies tabled at the meeting. 

No other adverse comments were received from other appropriate bodies during the 14 day period; however Environmental Health were unable to make observations on the application as there was no catering unit to inspect at the time of application.

The Sub Committee were referred to the information supplied by Miss Alosery in support of the application as set out in the meeting papers.  As part of her appeal, the applicant had supplied a short video file showing traffic movement and parked vehicles in the vicinity of the traffic lights at Bridge Street, which was then played to the Sub Committee by the Licensing Manager.

Members were referred to the Council’s Street Trading Policy as set out in the agenda papers, and in particular paragraph 15.2 (c) which states that “the location of the proposed street trading activity should not present a substantial risk to the public in terms of road safety, obstruction and fire hazard”.

Attention was drawn to the determination process as set out in the Street Trading Policy and to the way in which the Sub Committee would deal with the application.  Members were directed to the recommendation set out in the Licensing Manager’s report, which recommended the refusal of the application for the Street Trading consent, following the concerns raised in respect of public safety.  However, the Sub Committee were reminded that this was purely a recommendation and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.