Street trading fees to be reviewed: press release from district council

St Albans City and District Council’s policy on street trading fees is being reviewed following a recommendation by the Local Services Scrutiny Committee.

At a meeting last night (3 October) the Committee agreed to set up a Task and Finish Group made up of councillors to look into the level of fees being charged for street trading.

The fees are included in a street trading policy approved by the Licensing and Regulatory Committee on 22 January 2013 following a 12-week consultation.

The Council can charge for street trading in public places. However, it is only allowed to cover its costs for the granting and renewal of a permit and enforcement.

Chair of the Committee, Cllr Chris White, said: “Concerns have been raised by local businesses about these fees. It is an important topic that deserves to be looked at in-depth as part of the Council’s overall approach to supporting the local economy. The Committee has decided to ask a group of councillors to consider fees for street trading and how they compare to those charged by other local councils.”

If you have any comments on street trading fees, please email the Task and Finish Group at scrutiny@stalbans.gov.uk.

More information about the Council’s policy on street trading is available in the papers for the meeting on Thursday 3 October at: http://stalbans.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=389&MId=7173&Ver=4

A webcast of the meeting can also be watched on the Council’s website at http://www.stalbans.public-i.tv/core/:

Councillor contact:

Cllr Chris White, Chair of the Local Services Scrutiny Committee?Tel: 01727 845300