Agenda item

WESTMINSTER CITY COUNCIL LICENSING SUB-COMMITTEE NO. 6

Thursday 16 November 2023

Membership:           Councillor Robert Eagleton (Chair), Councillor Judith Southern and Councillor Tim Mitchell

Officer Support:       Legal Advisor:         Michael Carson

                                Committee Officer:  Sarah Craddock

Policy Advisor:         Vanouhi Petrosyan

                                Presenting Officer:  Bushara Hamida

Application to rescind the designating resolution for designated Pitch 1677 at Hill’s Place

FULL DECISION

Pitch Designation

The original designation for Pitch 1677 is “Hill’s Place west carriageway junction with Oxford Street in line with the Oxford Street Building Line”

Applicant

Westminster City Council’s Licensing Street Trading Team

Ward

West End

Summary of Application

The Licensing Sub-Committee is asked to rescind the designating resolution for designated Pitch 1677 at Hill’s Place as recommended by officers.

Representations Received

One representation was received in support of the application.

(West End Street Trading Association)

Policy Considerations

1.     Street Trading Policy

a)          Policy ST5 within the City of Westminster Statement of Street Licensing Policy relates to the designation and de-designation of street trading pitches. However, the Licensing Service requests that the committee consider this application as an exception to this policy.

Designation and De-designation- Policy ST5

(i)  The Licensing authority will designate specific resolution for licensed street trading.

(ii)The Licensing authority may de-designate pitches that are no longer suitable for licensed street trading.

(iii)   The Licensing authority will not designate any new isolated street trading pitches, apart from in exceptional circumstances.

Policy ST5(2) states that the Licensing authority may, subject to the appropriate consultation and notification procedures, de-designate street trading pitches where in the opinion of the licensing authority, they are no longer suitable for street trading. The circumstances under which a location may be considered not suitable include:

(a)    It has not been used for trading for a period of greater than six months;

(b)    There has been altered circumstances due to the increased pedestrian footfall resulting from altered highways layouts, public realms improvements or construction projects;

(c)    Where there is new development and the siting and operation of the trading pitch would adversely affect local pedestrian flow or cause congestion, including close to the transport stops or stations.

SUBMISSIONS AND REASONS

Ms Bushara Hamida, the Presenting Officer, introduced the application. 

Ms Hamida confirmed that the Licensing Service had received no comments from the Metropolitan Police Service or the Highways Authority and that the West End Street Trading Association was in support of the de designation of Pitch 1677.

Ms Hamida confirmed that Pitch 1677 has not been used as a street trading pitch in excess of 10 years and that as the original designation had been determined by the Licensing Sub Committee, the rescinding of the designating resolution should also be determined by the Licensing Sub Committee.

The Sub Committee noted that there were no objections to the application.

Having carefully considered the committee papers and the submissions made by all the parties, both orally and in writing, the Sub-Committee has decided, after taking into account all the circumstances of this application that approval be given to rescind the designation resolution for designated Pitch 1677 at Hill’s Place.

This is the Full Decision of the Licensing Sub-Committee which takes effect forthwith.

The Licensing Sub-Committee

16 November 2023