notification of chairman and outline of procedure

The Chairman opened the meeting by introducing the Sub-Committee and the Officers present. He then outlined the procedure that would be followed.

declarations of interest

No interests were declared.

part b minutes for information

application for a street trading consent - 'your community shop', corner of preston street and stone street, faversham

The Chairman introduced the report which set out the retrospective application for an annual Street Trading Consent, at 'Your Community Shop', corner of Preston Street and Stone Street, Faversham. The application was to place stalls around the raised flower bed at the top of Preston Street, adjacent to the shop premises.

Mr Luccini, the Director of the company, gave an overview of the application. He advised that the company was a not-for-profit organisation to provide help to the community. He outlined the groups that had been assisted by the proceeds from the sale of items from the shop, and he explained that no salary was paid from the business. Mr Luccini explained what was requested in the application and he considered the display outside the shop was not unsightly, and that there had been exterior displays of items on previous uses of the premises. A survey had been carried out in the shop and there had been unanimous support for trading adjacent to the shop premises. He did not consider the proposals caused an obstruction on Preston Street and explained that the business was trying to help to keep the town alive.

Mrs Ormerod, the Applicant, explained that organisations/residents from within the Swale area, with Faversham organisations/residents considered first, would be assisted from the proceeds from the sale of goods from the shop. She stated that the shop tried not to place items abutting the window at the same time as being positioned against the flower bed on that side, although this sometimes happened prior to an item being picked up for delivery.

It was clarified that the distance of the flower bed from the shop front was three metres.

A Member raised concern with items that were left outside the shop over night, as it gave an appearance of this being unwanted rubbish. Mr Luccini explained that sometimes an item may be left for anyone to take and this would be cleared the following day if it was still there.

The Sub-Committee adjourned to make their decision at 10.22 am. Members of the Sub-Committee, Assistant Solicitor and Democratic Services Officer left the meeting and returned at 10.42 am, when the meeting re-convened.

The Chairman stated that if tables one and two were being used, then nothing outside the window was permitted because of obstruction and that the position of clothes and furniture should be swapped with tables three and four on the application. He also advised that nothing was to be left outside the shop outside of trading times.

The Chairman advised that the applicant had the right to appeal to the Magistrates Court within 21 days.