South Gloucestershire Council Street Traders Newsletter

New Street Trading Policy and Application Guidelines
Following the recent consultation on changes to the Street Trading Policy and application guidelines the Licensing Department received a number of responses for and against certain aspects of the proposed Policy.
On the 3rd March 2016 the results of the consultation were put before The Regulatory Committee to consider. A new policy was agreed and will come into force on 1stJuly 2016.
Main Changes of the new Policy are:
  • A Basic Criminal Record Check must be conducted by the consent Holder at renewal / new application stage and then every subsequent 3 year period.
  • A new policy has been agreed on determining the relevancy of Criminal Convictions
  • Removal of the Consultation with residents for renewal applications.
  • Clarification in guidance notes of accepted forms of ID for proof of address and proof of right to work.
  • The inclusion of the Home Office (UK Visa’s and Immigration) as a consultee to applications.
Visits will be conducted by officers to discuss any concerns that you may have about the implementation of this policy.
Right to work of employees
Please note that it is the responsibility of consent holders to ensure that their employees have the correct right to work in the country.
UK Visa’s and Immigration have suggested that as a matter of due diligence that employers keep a folder containing copies of passports / work visas for all their employees to avoid any future issues.
Information on checks that must be conducted when employing new workers can be found on the Borders Agency website,
As you may be aware should a consented trader be found to employing persons without a valid right to work permission that this may result in the Street Trading Consent being revoked.
Renewal of Street Trading Consents
This is a Polite reminder to ensure that you submit your completed renewal paperwork at least 8 weeks prior to the expiry of your Street Trading Consent.
The reason for this is to allow sufficient time for a full consultation of the application and for a hearing to take place should objections be received.
This time frame allows an application to be determined prior to the expiry of your current Street Trading Consent.
Should a Street Trading Consent Holder fail to provide the required amount of time and the renewal application is not determined prior to the expiry of the Street Trading Consent, then the trader may be required to cease trading until determination.
Please note that any trader that allows their consent to expire without submitting any renewal will be treated as a new trader and risk losing their current trading location to someone else.
Collection of Street Trading Plates
The Licensing Team has seen an increase in consent holders failing to collect their consent plates and paperwork following the grant of their application.
Please note that it is a condition of the street trading consent scheme that consent holders must display current identification plate at all times.
Failure to do so will result in enforcement action being considered.
Ceasing Trading / How to Contact Us
If you wish to cease trading you must notify us in writing, stating the last date that you intend to trade. You must also ensure that you return your blue trading plate.
Once we have received this we will be able to arrange for any necessary refund of fees.
If we do not receive notification that you have ceased trading in writing you will still be charged and liable for quarterly fees. / If you would like to discuss any aspect of this newsletter or require an appointment to discuss / submit an application then please make sure you contact a member of the Licensing Team on 01454 868001 or via email: before attending the office.