The Committee considered the report of the Head of Democratic Services seeking an amendment to policy and delegations following an application for a street trading consent to run an Art and Makers Fair along the river front by the Barge restaurant through to the Amphitheatre as detailed in the application from Mr James Bailey.  Mr Bailey was promoting an Art and Makers Fair on the riverfront from the arch at the foot of the Archbishops Palace along the public footpath into the Amphitheatre and was intending to display many different goods and activities including paintings, photography, jewellery, sculpture, embroidery, ornaments, glass crafts, pottery, soft furnishings and local Kentish crafts.  Mr Bailey was seeking a 7 day a week all year round consent but intended to trade between April and October and also during December initially on Saturdays and Sundays.  The actual hours of operation would be 10am to 6pm but he was seeking 8am to 8pm consent.  Mr Bailey had been seeking consent to start on 6 August and therefore to achieve that a shortened consultation period of 10 days had taken place rather than the 14 days set out in policy and the agreement of the Committee to this shortening of the consultation period was sought in addition.

RESOLVED:

1.  That the Head of Democratic Services be given delegated authority, in consultation with the political group spokespersons, if adverse comment to the application are received, to consider and decide whether to grant, with or without specific conditions, or refuse a street trading consent to Mr Bailey to trade on the basis detailed in the report of the Head of Democratic Services.

2.  That the street trading consent policy be amended to allow one consent (if granted) for the area stipulated in the application to be held by Mr Bailey and be designated the first application.

3.  That the first application be charged at the normal street trading consent fee of £351 and that individual street traders forming part of the “Art Fair” not be charged.

4.  That the shortening of the consultation period to 10 days rather than the policy 14 days be approved.