Issue - meetings

Report of the Cabinet Member Housing and Safety

RESOLVED that

• the adoption of the scheme, as amended, for Cheltenham be approved
• the Site Management Agreement attached at Appendix 2 be approved
• authority be delegated to the Director of Culture and Wellbeing to sign the Site Management Agreement on behalf of the Council.

The Cabinet Member Housing and Safety introduced the report and advised that there were currently no statutory provisions in place for local authorities to formally regulate or licence direct debit face to face fundraising. Cabinet was asked to approve a voluntary scheme coordinated by the Public Fundraising Regulatory Association (PFRA) which was the charity-led self regulatory membership body for all types of face to face fundraising. Currently 95 % of the organisations, both charity and fundraising agency members involved in all types of face to face fundraising activity signed up to the self-regulatory scheme.

Members welcomed the voluntary scheme but expressed concern that the guidelines permitted 6 “chuggers” at a time to canvas in the pedestrianised area of the High Street. This was deemed to be too many and would potentially make people feel harassed. Members agreed that 4 people at any one time was regarded as a more appropriate figure and a sensible compromise.

RESOLVED that

• the adoption of the scheme, as amended, for Cheltenham be approved
• the Site Management Agreement attached at Appendix 2 be approved
• authority be delegated to the Director of Culture and Wellbeing to sign the Site Management Agreement on behalf of the Council.