As part of the implementation of the European Services Directive on 28 December 2009, St Albans City and District Council has updated its processes so that businesses are able to apply for licences and permits to operate electronically.
Market traders, cafes and animal boarding houses are among the businesses that are now able to apply online for a licence, permit or approval to operate in St Albans City and District.
Residents organising charitable collections in the District can also apply electronically for a licence to collect money, either house to house or on the street.
The Directive is aimed at breaking down barriers to trade and specifies that businesses in the European Union must be able to apply electronically for any licences they might need to operate in their own country or other countries within the EU.
At present the Directive in the UK only applies to the following procedures:
Animal boarding establishment licence
Caravan & Camping site licence
Club premises certificates and associated applications
Cooling tower notification
Charitable Collections – House to House & Street Collections
Environmental permitting
Food premises registration
Food premises approval
Licenses for houses in multiple occupation
Market Stall application
Pet Shop licence
Premises licences and associated applications
Riding establishment licence
Safety certificates for sports grounds
Sex shop & cinema licence
Tattooists piercing & electrolysis
Temporary Events Notices
The Directive does not apply to planning applications (or other applications relating to planning matters), building regulations applications or hackney carriage/private hire applications.
Licensing authorities across the European Economic Area, which includes EU member states and Norway, Lichtenstein and Iceland, are responsible for making the relevant application forms available online.
Cllr Anthony Rowlands, Portfolio Holder for Community Engagement and Support at St Albans City and District Council, said: “Businesses applying for licences and permits to operate in St Albans City and District can now find all the relevant forms they need to complete online. This process should make it easier for businesses to trade by easing the administrative barriers that they sometimes face.”
Businesses and residents interested in applying for a licence or permit can do so online through Business Link at http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/home?domain=www.businesslink.gov.uk&target=http://www.businesslink.gov.uk